No fewer than 981 teachers in Kogi, Saturday sat for professional qualification examination (PQE), conducted by the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
The examination would qualify the participants for certification as professional teachers.
The state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, after monitoring the conduct of the examination at YABMA International Science Academy, Lokoja, told journalists that the turn out by teachers was impressive.
He said the state government has done public sensitisation on the need for teachers to meet the minimum standard that has been set by the TRCN.
She said the turnout showed that everybody was aware of the December 2019 deadline set by the TRCN for teachers to be professionally qualified.
She noted that the number of teachers, who registered between 2018 and 2019 for the examination, had increased tremendously, assuring that the government would continue to give necessary support to teachers in the state.
While commending TRCN for its efforts, Osikoya stressed the need for the council to adequately plan for the conduct of the examination, saying there should be orientation seminars for candidates before the ex before the exercise.
According to her, there is obvious computer illiteracy among the teachers, adding that there is the need for teachers to take responsibility for their personal development.