The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), in collaboration with Plan International Nigeria, has trained teachers from different fields of learning ahead of its reformed Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE).

Speaking at the five-day technical workshop on the “Reformed Professional Qualifying Examination and Digital Literacy Model Design” on Friday in Abuja, Ronke Soyombo stated that the new PQE has streamlined 23 subjects into five.

Ms Soyombo, the registrar of TRCN, listed the streamlined subjects to include competency domains: literacy, numeracy, digital literacy, pedagogy, and safeguarding, saying this would enhance learner outcomes.

She stated that in the last four months, 26,000 teachers had registered for the forthcoming PQE, adding that by 2027, every practising teacher must be registered as a TRCN professional teacher.

“So, everything is about standard to us. And as a result, we are focusing on foundational literacy, mathematics, digital literacy, pedagogy, and safeguarding.

“For safeguarding, we are very particular about it, because every child in Nigeria needs to feel safe in our schools. So, teachers must be able to know what is expected of them.

“When a child makes a disclosure to them, teachers must be able to know that there are supports for them also if they are being abused as well. Because we are not just looking at how students are being abused, we are also looking at how teachers can be abused in some cases,” she added.

She said the participants were selected from basic education backgrounds and tertiary education and included specialists in mathematics, literacy, and IT.

“So, what we did is to ensure that everybody is selected from different areas so that places are properly covered and professionally covered as well,” she said.

On his part, Gbenga Adewole, a researcher at the University of Ibadan, emphasised the need to develop a digital literacy training model for enhanced learning outcomes.

Also speaking, Tanimudari Zakari, project coordinator, Plan International Nigeria, said Nigeria’s teacher certification is being modernised to better align with real classroom needs, especially in crisis contexts such as Adamawa and Sokoto.

Mr Zakari explained that simplified, competency-based PQE: TRCN’s reform moves from 23 subjects to five core domains—literacy, numeracy, digital literacy, pedagogy, and safeguarding—aligned with global standards and classroom realities.

“Nigeria is modernising teacher certification to meet real classroom needs, especially in crisis-affected states like Adamawa and Sokoto.

“Digital-by-design: the rollout of a digital teacher registration and licensing portal plus a digital literacy training model will enhance teachers’ readiness for the new PQE,” he said.

He noted the TRCN and Plan International Nigeria partnership as a catalyst for education reforms that translate into better learning outcomes for every child, as well as advancing teacher professionalisation and classroom results across Nigeria.

The project coordinator said that the organisation’s bold ambition is to empower 20 million girls to take action and drive change by 2028 and increase advocacy momentum for strategic education reviews.

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

Participants at the workshop were TRCN management, the Federal Ministry of Education, selected universities and colleges of education, curriculum/assessment experts, Plan International Nigeria, QEDA, and development partners/CSOs.

(NAN)