TRCN Assures Stable Portal, Set to Launch Mobile App for Teachers

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has reassured educators and stakeholders that its digital registration portal is now fully stable, following a brief disruption experienced in December 2025.

Registrar of the council, Ronke Soyombo, gave the assurance on Thursday while addressing journalists in Abuja. She dismissed reports of ongoing technical glitches on the platform, describing such claims as misleading and, in some instances, politically motivated.

According to Soyombo, the disruption lasted for only one week and was linked to issues with the council’s former service provider. She explained that the problem was promptly resolved after the council disengaged the developer and migrated to a new provider.

“In December, we had some issues with the developer, so our portal was down for one week. We resolved it and switched to another developer,” she said.

The registrar stressed that the council remains committed to efficiency and accountability, noting that it would be impractical to conduct professional examinations using an unstable platform.

“As much as I am an educationist, I also have a responsibility to generate revenue for government. I would not announce an examination and have the portal down,” she added.

While reaffirming the portal’s stability, Soyombo acknowledged that some teachers still face challenges accessing the system, largely due to limited digital literacy. To address this, she said TRCN has continued to provide alternative access through its state offices nationwide.

“We still have teachers who cannot access the portal because of digital literacy issues. That is why our state offices remain open. At no time in January was the portal down,” she noted.

On improving inclusivity, particularly for teachers in rural areas with limited internet connectivity, the TRCN boss highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the deployment of help desk officers in tertiary institutions, mobile outreach programmes, and targeted sensitisation campaigns in underserved communities.

She added that collaborations with stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Teachers, state education commissioners, and administrators, have been key to expanding access to the council’s services.

Looking ahead, Soyombo disclosed that the council plans to roll out a mobile application by the end of April 2026 to enhance accessibility and user experience. She also revealed that offline integration options are being considered.

“By the end of April, we intend to introduce an app that will make access more convenient for users. We will also consider offline integration as suggested,” she said.

Reiterating TRCN’s regulatory mandate, the registrar emphasised that all individuals engaged in teaching from early childhood to tertiary level must be properly registered and certified by the council.

She noted that the minimum qualification for teaching in Nigeria remains the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) or a degree with relevant education training, such as a postgraduate diploma in education.