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TRCN Inducts 145 Graduate Teachers

A total of 145 Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) graduates of the Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) in the Institute of Education, Faculty of Education have been inducted into the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

Administering the Oath, last Thursday at the Ebitimi Banigo Auditorium, University Park, Registrar/Chief Executive of TRCN, Professor Addison Wokocha, restated the Council's commitment to promoting excellence in education through effective registration, certification and licensing of teachers, as well as ensuring professionalism through accreditation, monitoring and supervision of teacher education programmes and institutes. 

Advising the inductees to take the exercise with the highest level of seriousness and exhibit commitment to professionalism, Professor Wokocha noted that the Induction admits them into the teaching profession without the rigours of undergoing Professional Qualifying Examinations. “As you go into the world, I charge you to be good ambassadors of the teaching profession, the University and the country”, he added, reminding them that TRCN has put in place mechanisms to check professional misconducts and prosecute offenders.

Chairman of the Occasion and pioneer Dean of Faculty of Education, Emeritus Professor Otonti Nduka, commended the Faculty of Education for adding an impressive number of professionally qualified teachers to the teaching profession. He also commended the TRCN under the leadership of its Chief Executive Officer, Professor Wokocha for lifting the teaching profession to enviable heights.

Delivering the Induction Lecture titled: School Norms, Unprofessional Conduct and Examination Malpractice in Secondary Schools in Nigeria, Executive Director of the Rivers State Education Quality Assurance Agency, Professor Anyamebo Okorosaye-Orubite, described examination malpractice as the bane of the Nigeria Educational System with grave consequences to the society.  He regretted that examination malpractice discredits Nigerian educational qualifications and certificates, Professor Okorosaye-Orubite, stating that  teachers as crucial facilitators of knowledge acquisition must be mindful of their behaviour and conduct within and outside the school as a way of inspiring students towards excellence in social relationships and academic performance.

Earlier in his Address, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Ajienka, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Ethelbert Nduka, observed that the maiden induction ceremony would contribute to quality assurance and control in the teaching profession. “This is a bold step towards checking unprofessionalism that has characterized the teaching profession over the years”, the Vice-Chancellor said, commending the pioneer Inductees for scaling through the rigorous training which has paid off at the end.

In their separate speeches, Dean, Faculty of Education, Professor Ebi Bio Awotua-Efebo, and Acting Director of CHES, Dr Chineze Uche, told the Inductees that the training they received have equipped them to become excellent teachers who must bridge the gap between classroom and real life experiences for learners. The duo advised them to embrace modern technologies especially audio-visual to enhance their teaching skills.

Representative of the Inductees, Mr Isaac Legborsi thanked the Institute and the University for imparting sound knowledge to them, promising to remain worthy ambassadors of their Alma Mater.

By Ethel Timi-Johnson

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