The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled a Teacher Ethics and Criminal Record Verification initiative for all public and private teachers nationwide. The system is designed to verify teachers’ criminal records and ensure that only qualified staff are employed.
According to a statement released by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on its X page, the digital background check is to ensure that all teachers in public and private schools undergo thorough vetting before employment. The initiative is also backed by the Ministry of Education, under Dr. Tunji Alausa.
“The initiative aims to restore professionalism and accountability in the education system by entrusting the nurturing of future generations to individuals of sound moral character,” part of the statement reads.
As per the implementation process, NOA explained that the framework will be integrated into the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) digital portal. It explained that the modification will promote real-time registration, distribution of licences to qualified professionals and monitor their conduct on a timely basis.
In addition, the criminal records background checks are aimed at unearthing unqualified teachers nationwide within the scheme and also prevent impersonation and certificate forgery. The initiative is also expected to create a digital space for teachers’ records and promote transparency in the recruitment process.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Alausa, mentioned that the background checks aim to entrust the education of future generations to individuals of sound moral character, thereby restoring integrity to the teaching profession. This is to ensure that the career modifications of young Nigerians are placed in the hands of responsible and qualified instructors.
While the agency didn’t reveal how it will get the database of teachers for the criminal records verification, the initiative is expected to commence as soon as possible. The recent launch of the TRCN digital portal in August further solidifies the Ministry of Education’s preparation for the vetting implementation.
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In addition to the integration of teachers’ background verification on the TRCN digital portal, policies are in place to upgrade teachers’ training through the platform. This is to address the all-time issue of unqualified teachers and inadequate infrastructure.
The TRCN Registrar, Dr. Ronke Soyombo, explained that the digital portal will also enhance teacher quality through the use of advanced technological features such as AI-powered lesson planning. She added that the process will also accommodate state-level investigation panels that see to all forms of disciplinary cases across the teaching profession.
For a while, the Nigerian education system has been faced with issues such as low funding, unqualified professionals, lack of infrastructure, and an increasing number of out-of-school children. Stakeholders have consistently called for an active reform of a sector that shapes Nigeria’s future.
These prevailing issues have seen an overall decline in the Nigerian educational standards, with the promotion of examination malpractices at all levels of education. In its effort to address these pressing issues, the federal government is ensuring that only qualified teachers worthy of knowledge and character are in the labour force. And the TRCN digital portal will be a resourceful tool towards the implementation.
The TRCN, established by Decree 31 of 1993, which later became the TRCN Act CAP T3 of 2004, is tailored to combat issues by repositioning the teaching profession. It seeks to combat rising issues through registration, licensing, and professional development.
The newly launched TRCN portal provides the room to digitalise teachers’ records and provide a credible database. The initiative solidifies the readiness to redefine the narrative of the Nigerian teaching profession.
The portal, launched in August, was created in partnership with the United Kingdom-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria. The portal will seek to enable real-time access to professional development opportunities, strengthen accountability and restore dignity in the teaching profession.