NGO trains 359 Borno teachers, supports TRCN certification

As part of efforts to improve the quality of education in conflict-affected communities, an international non-governmental organisation, Plan International Nigeria, has supported 359 teachers in Borno State to obtain their professional teaching licences through the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.

The beneficiaries, drawn from Kala-Balge, Damboa, and Mobbar Local Government Areas, were among over 400 teachers who participated in the TRCN Professional Qualifying Examination after undergoing months of training and mentorship support.

Speaking during the induction ceremony held in Maiduguri, the Director of Programme Quality and Influencing at Plan International Nigeria, Helen Idiong, said the intervention became necessary following years of insecurity and insurgency that weakened the education system in many parts of Borno State.

According to her, while many efforts had focused on returning children to school, there was a growing concern around learning outcomes and the shortage of qualified teachers in vulnerable communities.

She explained that the organisation partnered with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, the University of Maiduguri, and implementing partner, Unique Care and Support Foundation, to equip teachers with the knowledge and support needed to become professionally certified educators.

“For years, insecurity and insurgency have affected education in Borno State. We realised that getting children back into classrooms was not enough if there were not enough trained teachers to support learning,” she said.

“We had to ask ourselves what needed to change, and one of the key things we discovered was the urgent need for properly trained and certified teachers.”

She noted that lecturers from the University of Maiduguri served as master trainers throughout the programme to prepare participants for the TRCN qualifying examination.

Also speaking, the Head of Programmes and Grants at CASFOD, Jibrin Adamu, said the selected local government areas were chosen because of the devastating impact years of conflict had on education in those communities.

“These are communities where many children lost access to quality education because of conflict and displacement. Supporting teachers in these areas is part of rebuilding the education system and improving long-term learning outcomes,” he said.

He added that the project received funding support from the European Union and was implemented in collaboration with the Borno State Government and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Director of Certification, Licensing and Professional Operations at the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Abimbola Ahmed, urged the newly certified teachers to uphold professional ethics and avoid misconduct capable of leading to the withdrawal of their licences.

He warned against examination malpractice, abuse of students, and other unethical practices within the profession.

Some of the beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the organisation for the opportunity, describing the certification as a major milestone in their teaching careers.

One of the beneficiaries, Khadijat Muhammad, said the programme had boosted her confidence and improved her capacity to serve learners in her community.

“This certificate gives us confidence and helps us provide better education for children in our communities,” she said.

Another beneficiary, Abubakar Muhammad, pledged to use the knowledge gained from the programme to improve learning outcomes among his students.

The initiative is part of broader efforts aimed at strengthening education systems and improving access to qualified teachers in underserved and conflict-affected communities across Nigeria.