The Registrar/Chief Executive of the Teacher Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof. Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye, has stated that the decision by the council to introduce qualifying examination for persons wishing to make career in teaching, was aimed at entrenching high standard, and making the profession globally competitive.
Prof. Ajiboye made the assertion, while making remarks at the first induction ceremony held for 375 holders of NCE, B. ED, B.Sc. Edu, M.Sc. ( Ed)/ M.ED, who were admitted into teaching profession on Thursday 24 November 2022 by the TRCN in Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) Ondo.
Describing teaching as one of the most recognized profession in Nigeria, the TRCN Registrar, said the qualifying examination, apart from entrenching standard, was also aimed at restoring the dignity of teaching profession, and reduce incidence of quackery.
The former University of Ibadan lecturer also added that the introduction of the qualifying examination was meant to correct the impression that teaching profession is an “all comers affairs’’, stating that such era has since ‘’ become a thing of the past’’.
He said,’’ I want to challenge you that teaching today, has gone beyond what you call all comers affairs. The era of when somebody will say my son or daughter has not been able to get a job, please, let him or her manage teaching is gone.
“We introduced the first professional qualifying examination in 2017, and now I can tell you that even if you are a professor, and you want to get the certificate of the Teacher Registration Council of Nigeria, you must sit and pass the professional qualifying examination“, he remarked.
The renowned scholar, also listed some achievements of the TRCN since he took over its mantle of leadership, especially in the area of improvement of teachers’ welfare to include upward review of teachers retirement age by the Federal Government from 60 to 65 years or attainment of 40 years in service.
In addition, Prof. Ajiboye also stated that as a way of attracting “bright brains” to embrace teaching, the TRCN also secured the approval of the government to pay bursary and teaching practice allowance to students studying education courses in tertiary institutions in the country.
The TRCN Registrar equally dropped hints of plans by the federal government to place fresh education graduates entering the public service on grade level 9 instead of 8, while those with Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) would be placed on level 8 instead of 7.
While urging the inducted graduates to seek constantly for self-improvement by embracing Information Communication Technology (ICT), he equally admonished them to abide with the oath of allegiance sworn to by exhibiting high degree of responsibility in the discharge of their duties.
His words, “As teachers we are responsible people, only intelligent and decent people can be teachers and that is what we are, please I encourage you to take this profession seriously, and you are going to excel’’, he remarked.
Earlier in his remarks, the Acting Provost, ACE Ondo, Dr. Ajigbade Ikuejube, described the occasion as historic and charged the inductees to be good ambassadors of the college.
The College Chief Executive Officer lauded the TRCN for its contributions to development of teacher education adding that through the ingenuity of Prof, Josiah Ajiboye, the bar of professionalism in teaching profession has been raised.
Also in her remarks, the Registrar ACE, Mrs. Olufisayo Fakorede, represented by the Deputy Registrar, Establishment and Personnel Matters, Mrs. Adeyinka Tugbiyele, congratulated the inductees and college academic board ‘’ for being able to fashion out a curriculum, that has enabled the institution to produce high quality teachers, in the best tradition of teaching profession”.
She urged the newly inducted professional teachers, to apply knowledge acquired during their training, by ‘’ looking at the classroom as a platform for interaction among teachers, learners, learning environment and subject matter, through applications of their experience to control the undesirable interactions in the classroom”.
Underscoring importance of teachers in society, Fakorede, therefore, urged the inductees to use their membership of the noble profession to improve the socio-economic and political development of the country by ensuring that they abide with the “ethics of teaching profession at all times.
The colourful ceremony which held at the Olusegun Obasanjo auditorium in the college, featured academic procession, presentation of the inductees to the Registrar TRCN, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye by the College Acting Provost, Dr. Ajigbade Ikuejube.
The highpoint of the event was the ceremonial presentation of certificates to five of the inductees, this was followed with responses from the some representatives of the inducted graduates, who thanked the college and TRCN for organizing the induction, while pledging that certificates issued to them would be put to good use.
Important dignitaries who graced the occasion include Registrar/ Chief Executive TRCN, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye; College Acting Provost, Dr. Ajigbade Ikuejube; erstwhile Provost of the College, Dr. Samuel Akintunde; College Registrar, Mrs. Olufisayo Fakorede, represented by Deputy Registrar Establishment and Personnel Matters, Mrs. Adeyinka Tugbiyele; Bursar, Mr. Ganiyu Abdul and Librarian, Mr. Azino Akpokuriere.
Others were, Ondo State Coordinator TRCN, Mr. Akande O.O; Dean School of Education and Chairman Committee of Deans, Dr. Akinyemi Akinbobola; Director Post graduate and Research, Dr. Yemi Olugbamigbe; College Deputy Registrar, Examination and Records, Mr. Peter Okunniga and Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Oluseto Olatuyi.
Also present to witness the ceremony were staff from College Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Examination and Records, Music department to mention but a few.
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