Alausa Orders Purge of Unqualified Teachers, Vows to Restore Dignity to Nigeria’s Education System

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has issued a firm directive for the elimination of unqualified teachers from classrooms across Nigeria. Speaking at the inauguration of the 5th Governing Council of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) in Abuja, Alausa emphasized that the council’s appointment was not ceremonial, but a critical mandate to reform the teaching profession. He described the situation as urgent and charged members to rescue education from mediocrity and restore its lost dignity. “This is not business as usual,” he said, warning that licenses of teachers who undermine the profession’s integrity would be revoked.

Alausa stressed that every Nigerian child deserves to be taught by a certified, competent professional, without exception. He declared that the performance of the new council members would be evaluated quarterly against set Key Performance Indicators, reinforcing that there would be no room for excuses or delays. Framing the inauguration as more than a statutory formality, the minister positioned it as a step toward professionalizing teaching under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. “We are igniting a revolution in the standards, dignity, and future of Nigeria’s teaching profession,” he added, quoting Aristotle to emphasize the importance of educating both mind and heart.

Drawing inspiration from global standards, the minister cited Finland as a model where teachers are highly respected and valued. He urged council members to emulate such practices, stating that no education system can exceed the quality of its teachers. “You are not here to warm seats. You are here as architects of a new era,” he declared. Alausa emphasized that Nigerian teachers must not only impart knowledge but also be recognized as nation-builders, deserving of both professional esteem and societal respect.

In a broader message to education stakeholders, Alausa encouraged teachers to take ownership of the Council, while urging parents and communities to hold the education system accountable. He called on the Council to replace rhetoric with action, reaffirming a national commitment to quality education. “Though our tribes and tongues may differ, we must be united in one cause, that every child, from Sokoto to Calabar, from Maiduguri to Yenagoa, is taught by a qualified, inspired, and TRCN-certified teacher,” he concluded, offering prayers for the Council’s success and the advancement of Nigerian education.