13700 teachers sit for professional qualifying exam
By Uji A. Iliyasu, Abuja
The May edition of the Teachers’ Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE), conducted by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), witnessed the participation of approximately 13,700 candidates nationwide. This was disclosed by the Acting Registrar of TRCN, Stella Maria Nwokeocha, during her monitoring visit to the Computer-Based Test Centre at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Wuse II, Abuja.
According to Nwokeocha, 594 candidates were writing the examination at the NOUN centre, while the remaining candidates were spread across various states. She noted that the examination had been generally smooth, with no major incidents reported.
“All the reports we have received indicate a hitch-free exercise. We have not had any negative reports at the moment,” she said.
However, she added that due to the rescheduling of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the PQE was shifted in some states. “The exam continues tomorrow due to the JAMB issue. Some candidates in Lagos and the South East will write on Sunday, while those in Enugu will take the exam on Wednesday,” she stated.
Dr. Saliu Mustapha, Chairman of the TRCN Governing Board and National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), commended the smooth conduct of the examination and emphasized the importance of the exercise in sanitizing the teaching profession.
He highlighted ongoing efforts by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, to leverage technology in ensuring that only qualified teachers are allowed in classrooms. Mustapha revealed that the Ministry of Education has launched a comprehensive IT-driven platform that integrates key educational bodies, including JAMB, UBEC, and TRCN, to provide a centralized database for verifying teacher qualifications.
“This platform will allow parents to verify the credentials of teachers. If a teacher is not listed on the platform, it is a clear indicator that they are not qualified to handle students,” he said.
The representative of the Minister of Education, Ismaila Adiatu, who was present at the Abuja centre, expressed satisfaction with the examination’s conduct.
“This is the first time we are observing the examination in this manner, and we are very impressed with the organization and execution,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, the Director of Certification and Licensing of TRCN, Dr. Jacinta Ezeahurukwe, announced that the PQE results are expected to be released within a week. She further called for improved funding for TRCN to effectively tackle operational challenges.