The Federal Government has introduced a mandatory nationwide criminal record screening for teachers in both public and private schools, as part of a broader effort to restore professionalism and discipline to Nigeria’s education system.
This initiative, officially named the Teacher Ethics and Criminal Record Verification Framework, was announced on Monday by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and is being led by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
According to Dr. Alausa, the move is aimed at ensuring that only individuals of sound moral character are allowed into classrooms to shape the future of Nigerian children. He described the new framework as a necessary step to curb rising cases of teacher misconduct, certificate fraud, and the employment of unqualified persons in the education sector.
“This is about the future of our children. We must not entrust their lives and development to people who have questionable character or are not professionally trained,” Dr. Alausa said.
The Ministry of Education explained that the new background screening process will be fully integrated into the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) digital portal. This means that every teacher applying for employment in Nigerian schools will undergo criminal and ethical background checks as part of the registration and licensing process.
In addition to verifying criminal records, the system will help detect cases of impersonation, certificate forgery, and other fraudulent activities that have plagued teacher recruitment, particularly in private schools.
The digital platform, which was launched last month by TRCN, allows teachers to register, view results, and print certificates online without visiting physical offices. It is also equipped with AI-powered tools to assist teachers in lesson planning and professional development.
Speaking on the importance of the initiative, TRCN Registrar, Dr. Ronke Soyombo, explained that the new digital system would modernize the teaching profession by combining technology with policy enforcement.
She noted that the TRCN portal now includes features such as:
State-level investigation panels to address cases of teacher misconduct,
A revised Professional Qualifying Examination structure with focus on core teaching areas like literacy, numeracy, pedagogy, and ethics,
Continuous monitoring of teacher performance and compliance.
“We are not just checking certificates anymore. We are checking character, conduct, and commitment to ethics,” she said.
Dr. Soyombo also stated that the portal will help reduce the number of unqualified individuals working as teachers, especially in private schools.
Recent data released by the TRCN raised serious concerns about the qualifications of the current teaching workforce in Nigeria. According to former TRCN Registrar, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, Nigeria has close to four million teachers, but only 2.4 million are registered with TRCN as of 2025.
He noted that many teachers in private schools lack the minimum academic qualifications required to be registered. Under TRCN regulations, anyone seeking to be a licensed teacher must have at least a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree or a B.Sc/BA with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) or Professional Diploma in Education (PDE).
“Many of those teaching in private schools today are not qualified. They cannot pass the TRCN registration requirements,” Prof. Ajiboye had warned earlier in the year.
The Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) was established by Decree No. 31 of 1993, now recognized under the TRCN Act CAP T3 of 2004. The council is legally mandated to regulate and control the teaching profession at all levels of education across Nigeria.
Its responsibilities include teacher registration, certification, monitoring of professional conduct, and enforcement of ethical standards.
With this new criminal record verification system, TRCN is now taking a firmer stance on discipline and quality control, aligning with the Ministry of Education’s broader reforms.
The Ministry has urged all school owners, head teachers, and education boards to ensure full compliance with the new framework. Failure to do so, according to the government, could result in sanctions, including withdrawal of licenses or closure of schools.
For many stakeholders, the move has been described as long overdue.
“It’s a welcome development. We need to sanitise our classrooms and protect our children from unfit individuals,” said Halima Bashir, a secondary school principal in Abuja.
The Ministry of Education says it will begin strict enforcement of the framework starting in the final quarter of 2025.
