The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has reiterated its commitment to strengthening teacher development and professionalism, warning that “no teacher with a criminal record will be allowed to remain in the classroom.”

The Kaduna State Coordinator of TRCN, Esther Natsa, stated this during the Certificate Dissemination Ceremony for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy organised by PLANE.

Natsa, represented by Nafisa Abbas, explained that the council was working with law enforcement agencies to enforce its new Teacher Ethics and Criminal Record Verification Framework.

She said the measure was aimed at safeguarding schools by ensuring that teachers with questionable records are removed from the system.

“Our classrooms must remain safe and secure for learners, and anyone found with a criminal record has no place in the teaching profession,” she said.

At the event, the Kaduna State Team Lead for PLANE, Diana Agabi, disclosed that more than 700 teachers sat for the foundational literacy and numeracy examinations, out of which 504 passed and were awarded TRCN certification.

She said the certification adds to their professional credit under TRCN and that the process was carried out using digital platforms such as WhatsApp to encourage peer-to-peer sharing among teachers.

“Teachers on the platform exchange strategies on how to improve teaching and learning, manage learners with disabilities, and address challenges they encounter in classrooms. The initiative is helping to build teachers’ capacity and improve outcomes in schools.”

TRCN also highlighted reforms such as the Career Path Policy, the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) programme, and the recently launched TRCN Digital Portal, which “simplifies teacher registration, licensing, and certification” nationwide.