TRCN Reveals 250 Fake Teaching Certificates, Introduces QR Codes

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) discovered 250 fake teaching certificates during a recruitment exercise in an unnamed state, as announced by the council’s Chief Executive and Registrar, Dr Ronke Soyombo, on Thursday. This initiative is part of efforts to combat the circulation of forged credentials through the introduction of QR-coded certificates, which allow employers to verify teachers' qualifications via a digital platform.

The recruitment aimed to hire about 1,000 teachers. Soyombo emphasized the importance of verifying professional qualifications to maintain education standards.

The TRCN has also enhanced the integrity of its Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) by implementing randomized questions based on candidates' academic qualifications to deter malpractice. The Federal Government has set a target for 75% of teachers to be licensed by the end of 2026 and requires all teachers to be certified before entering classrooms by December 2027.

Previous PQE assessments indicated significant weaknesses in mathematics among teachers nationwide.