Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) says candidates from Jigawa and Ekiti have been excluded from the 2020 qualifying examinations for failing to meet the commission’s benchmark for participation. 

Registrar of the council, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye who announced this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja said no fewer that 17,606 candidates from across the federation will however write the examinations billed for November 12 -14.

Mr. Ajiboye said that Osun state tops the list with 1,727 candidates, followed by Adamawa, 1,623 candidates, Nasarawa State 934 candidates and the FCT with 850 candidates.

He said that Jigawa and Ekiti states were barred from the computer-based examination for their failure to meet the benchmark of 100 candidates per state.

The registrar disclosed that the number of candidates was reduced from over 40,000 as in the previous examination, to 17,606, and that the number of batches were also reduced from three to two, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Ajiboye added that the date for the examination had also been staggered to ensure social distancing and compliance with other relevant COVID-19 guidelines.

“We organised a minimum of two qualifying examinations in a year,” Mr. Ajiboye said. “Last year we conducted three batches of examination but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we made it two batches this year.”

The TRCN chief executive said further: “With this development, teachers who are not technology savvy are now focused on learning how to use technology in teaching and we are happy about that’’.

The registrar commended the Federal Government for making commitments to improve teachers’ welfare in the country, while assuring that TRCN would continue to collaborate with relevant practitioners in ensuring improved quality of teachers.

Mr. Ajiboye cited Finland as having the best education system in the world because they placed the ‘’learner at the centre of education and the quality of their teachers is top notch’’, saying that that is what Nigeria should emulate.

NAN