The Chief Executive Officer of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Dr. Ronke Soyombo, has revealed that many individuals currently teaching in Nigeria lack the required qualifications.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Soyombo said the issue is more prevalent in private schools than in public institutions. She blamed the situation for the declining standard of education in the country.

According to her, attending a teacher’s college alone does not automatically qualify anyone to teach. She noted that some people have the passion for teaching but remain unqualified because they lack the necessary certifications.

Marking the 2025 World Teachers’ Day, Soyombo disclosed that the council is taking steps to address the shortage of qualified teachers. “There are many unqualified teachers in the profession, particularly in private schools. What is stopping many from joining public schools is that they don’t have education degrees,” she said.

She further revealed that the TRCN currently has about 1.4 million teachers registered but aims to reach 20 million within the next two years through digitised registration processes.

Soyombo also emphasized the need for collaboration in the teaching profession, urging teachers to plan lessons together and exchange best practices to improve outcomes.