In a sobering blow to the nation’s education sector, a staggering number of teachers have flunked the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE), raising questions about the quality of teaching in Nigeria.

According to the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), a whopping 3,963 teachers out of a total of 15,753 who took the November 2023 exam failed to meet the required standards. This translates to a concerning failure rate of 27.1%.

The news was delivered by TRCN Registrar Josiah Ajiboye during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja on Monday. He explained that the PQE was designed to assess the professional knowledge and skills of educators across the country.

“The examination is crucial to ensure that our teachers are equipped with the necessary expertise to deliver quality education to our children,” Ajiboye stated.

While 10,636 teachers managed to pass the exam, representing 72.9% of those who sat, the high number of failures has sent shockwaves through the education community.

Concerns are mounting about the adequacy of teacher training programs and the overall preparedness of educators to handle the demands of the classroom.

Ajiboye acknowledged the gravity of the situation and pledged the council’s commitment to addressing the issue. He assured that TRCN would work closely with stakeholders to improve teacher training, support struggling educators, and enhance the overall quality of the teaching profession in Nigeria.

However, the path forward is likely to be challenging. The high failure rate on the PQE suggests deep-rooted problems within the education system, and addressing them will require a comprehensive and sustained efforts.