Governor Ugwuanyi of Enugu State

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) on Monday inducted and certified two hundred and fifty-two (252) graduates of the Enugu State College of Education (Technical), Enugu, as professional teachers.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the graduates, who participated in the 6th induction of the college, are from three categories of educational qualifications, which included: Masters (7); Professional Diploma in Education (234) and National Certificate of Education (11).

The Registrar of TRCN, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, said that the induction and its laid down procedures the inductees had passed through made it easier for them to be recognised anywhere in the World as a bona fide, trained and qualified teachers.

Ajiboye, who was represented by Malam Adamu Bello, Deputy Director Professional Operation of TRCN, said that soon within a space of months, no unprofessional teacher would be allowed to teach in any Nigerian school be it public or private.

He noted that the TRCN was on course according to its statutory mandate to fish out and prosecute all teachers not certified and professsionlised by the council.

“Very soon, those people that think it is a joke for these 17 years we have been drumming it for them to professionalise through the council’s criteria, will be arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned.

“People cannot continue to reap where they did not sow.

“The council will go after them with the full weight of the law even as we seek state governments’ co-operation to rid the country of quack and unqualified teachers,’’ he said.

He, however, urged the new professional teachers to keep the flag flying and continue to display clear cut distinction as they carry on with the noble profession of teaching.

“I must congratulate you and remind you that your professional certificate stands you out anywhere in the world and you must display that rare comportment and discipline expected of a professional teacher always,’’ he advised.

Earlier, the Acting Provost of Enugu State College of Education (Technical), Prof. Ngozi Nnamani, admonished the inductees to live up to the high expectations expected of a professional teacher in the society.

Nnamani also thanked the TRCN for the council’s hard work, vision and determination in projecting the image and status of the teaching profession to the highest quality standard and discipline.

She thanked the TRCN Zonal Co-ordinator, Mrs Nneka Onyebuchi, for carrying the college along in all TRCN programmes and policies; adding that the college would continue to work closely with the council.

One of the inductees, Mr Uche Ani, said that he was overwhelmed with joy to get certified as the retention of his present job in a private school depends on it.