TRCN laments global shortage of teachers

Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Prof. Olusegun Ajiboye, has highlighted a significant shortage of teachers in Africa and globally.

Speaking at the 10th anniversary and sixth convocation ceremony of Corona College of Education, Ilupeju, he urged Nigerian teachers to see themselves as global professionals and become acquainted with technology to progress in the global market.

“The world needs teachers. There is a shortage of about 45 million teachers globally, with Africa experiencing a severe deficit and Nigeria accounting for a significant portion with a shortage of about 15 million teachers.

He continued, “Today, we have teachers’ mobility. They move across the world. In two years, the UK has recruited about 2,000 Nigerian teachers. In 2022, Canada recruited about 600 Nigerian teachers. This shows that teacher mobility is high now. Not just doctors moving abroad, teachers are also moving out in large numbers.”

 “Anyone who wants to take up this profession shouldn’t see themselves as a local teacher. You must be well-prepared and know how to use technology. You are for the global market. See yourself as a global teacher. You can teach in any part of the world. Many Nigerians should be encouraged to enter the teaching profession.”

The special guest of honour, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Prof. Chijioke Okwelle, noted that the commission identified Corona College of Education as a frontrunner in producing quality teachers and upholding its vision of enhancing sound education in Nigeria.

“This institution is an outstanding college of education. We are impressed with its teaching and instructional facilities employed in service delivery. It inculcates training that will make the children creative and innovative. If other private colleges can reach the standard of Corona, it will ease the commission’s work, and we will have enough teachers to make the country proud,” he said.

Okwelle also hinted that for the 2024/2025 academic session, qualified federal colleges of education have been approved to run specialised degree programs, which would not be inferior in terms of certification to those of universities.

In her speech, the provost of the institution, Dr. Olajumoke Mekiliuwa, stressed how the school had grown in the past 10 years.

“I wish the graduates well. They have completed their studies and are now going out to represent the Corona brand and name of the college. We know that they will make us proud. They will not only operate here in Nigeria but globally. Already, we are producing globally competitive graduates, as we have them all over the world,” the provost said.

The convocation lecturer, Prof., Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University, Ogun state, Chinedum Babalola, spoke on private tertiary institutions’ commitment to raising the standard of education with the use of technology in Nigeria despite limited funds.

She called on the government and all stakeholders to promote quality education, provide quality educators and practise quality education.