FG Insists All Teachers Must Pass Professional Qualifying Examinations

• PhD holders, professors also

Paul Obi in Abuja

The federal government monday said all teachers in the country must henceforth pass the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) before they can engage in teaching in any level of education in the country.

The move came on the heels of the federal government’ s decision to standardise the quality of teaching across all strata of education in Nigeria.

The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, stated this in Abuja ahead of government’s plan to reform the teaching profession across board.

According to Ajiboye, the aim is to weed out quacks in the profession and as enthrone global standards.

He informed journalists that already, “the PQE was one of the main items captured in the TRCN 2016 budget. We can then have centres across the country in a controlled place and take the PQE.

“Talking about PQE, do permit me to assure Nigerians that the council has put in place all that is needed for the successful re-introduction of professional qualifying examinations for teachers across the country.

“TRCN commenced the implementation of PQE for teachers in Nigeria in 2008 but halted the process in order to develop modules that are time-tested and have the potential to withstand standardisation,” the new TRCN registrar said.

Ajiboye, while insisting that all teachers, including PhD holders and professors are expected to sit for the PQE, explained that “the PQE modules have been developed and test run on sample groups to ascertain the validity and authenticity of the test constructs.

“It serves as one of the best tools for assessing, admitting and licencing practitioners in any profession. This was confirmed by the maiden edition of the examination which revealed a lot about the professional deficiencies of the Nigerian teacher.

“It showed that majority of Nigerian teachers are outdated in their pedagogical skills and techniques. As such, it became evident that they needed urgent on-the-job training for necessary updates,” Ajiboye stated.

Also, TRCN Director of Professional Operations, Ibrahim Roni, maintained that the PQE is compulsory for all level of teachers in the country.

Roni told journalists that given that the examination would be mandatory to all teachers, once the examination kick start, it will be an offence to teach in the country with passing the PQE.
He further stated that the council is expected to conduct the first set of the examination in December this year, while full implementation commence early next year.