The federal government has unveiled a new framework to vet and verify the criminal records of all teachers in both public and private schools nationwide.
The National Orientation Agency, in a statement confirming the policy on Tuesday, said the move is expected to prevent impersonation, forgery, and the employment of unqualified staff in schools.
It said the initiative, led by Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, aims to “restore professionalism and accountability” in the education sector by ensuring only people of “sound moral character” are entrusted with educating students.
The NOA said the policy, dubbed the Teacher Ethics and Criminal Record Verification Framework, will be integrated into the existing digital portal of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
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The move, it added, will enable real-time registration, licensing, and monitoring of teachers.
Ronke Soyombo, the TRCN registrar, highlighted additional features of the digital portal.
The platform, she said, will not only enhance the quality of teachers but will also include AI-powered lesson planning tools and state-level investigation panels to handle disciplinary issues.
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Nigeria’s education system has long faced significant challenges, including a lack of qualified teachers, inadequate infrastructure, and poor funding.
These have contributed to a high number of out-of-school children and an overall decline in educational standards.
The TRCN was established by law to combat these issues by professionalising the teaching workforce through registration, licensing, and professional development.
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