The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has intensified efforts to improve access to its services for teachers in rural communities, as part of broader measures to address digital and infrastructure gaps affecting educators outside urban centres.

Registrar and Chief Executive of TRCN, Ronke Soyombo, disclosed this in Abuja, noting that many teachers, particularly in rural areas, still struggle to navigate digital platforms due to limited digital literacy.

 

She explained that the council is adopting a more inclusive system that accommodates teachers with varying levels of technological proficiency. According to her, relying solely on digital solutions would exclude a significant number of educators.

“The problem we have in education at the moment is that not all our teachers are IT savvy. We have to be very inclusive. If we are not inclusive, we are still joking,” she said.

To address this, the council has introduced a dual-access model that allows teachers to engage with its services both online and offline. This approach ensures that those without access to reliable internet or digital tools are not left behind.

 

As part of the intervention, TRCN is strengthening its state offices to better support teachers who require physical assistance. Additional computers have been deployed across these offices to improve service delivery, especially for educators coming from rural areas.

Soyombo added that the initiative extends beyond rural teachers to include all educators who may need support with registration, licensing, and other processes.

The council is also leveraging its collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Teachers to deepen grassroots reach. With representatives across all local government areas, the union provides a vital channel for engaging teachers nationwide.

Beyond improving access, TRCN is focusing on enhancing the quality of teaching resources available across the country. Teachers drawn from the six geopolitical zones have developed thousands of lesson plans, which are currently undergoing validation to ensure they align with curriculum standards and reflect contributions from both public and private school educators.

 

 

The registrar revealed that over 5,000 lesson plans have already been produced and are being reviewed to maintain quality and relevance in classroom delivery.

In addition, the council is introducing an AI-powered lesson planning platform designed to support teachers in delivering more effective instruction while reducing workload.

The latest measures build on TRCN’s ongoing digital transformation efforts, following the launch of its online portal in August 2025. The platform was introduced to address long-standing delays in certification and licensing processes.

Recent data from the council show growing adoption, with over 11,000 candidates registered for the May 2026 examination and more than 14,000 applicants submitting credentials through the portal in recent months. Since the platform’s introduction, millions of teachers nationwide have engaged with the system for registration, licensing, and certification.

 

 

For Nigeria’s education sector, the combination of improved access, stronger infrastructure, and digital innovation is expected to enhance teaching standards, particularly in underserved communities where support has historically been limited.

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