Teachers across Nigeria have voiced growing frustration after the digital registration portal launched by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) reportedly broke down.

The platform, launched in September 2025 with much publicity by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa was designed to simplify teacher registration, licensing, and certificate printing through an online system.

In a statement on Monday by a group under the auspices of concerned stakeholders, it noted that the portal was part of reforms under the leadership of TRCN Registrar, Dr. Ronke Soyombo, aimed at restoring professionalism and dignity to the teaching profession.

The statement, signed by a secondary school teacher, Haliru Mohammed, expressed concern that the sudden collapse of the platform has disrupted ongoing registration processes, leaving thousands of teachers stranded and uncertain about their professional status.

It added that many applicants who had already initiated or completed payments online are now unable to access the system to finalise their registration or print their certificates.

According to the group, the situation has forced teachers to revert to manual processing, thereby defeating the core objective of the digital reform. They warned that the development could erode confidence in the Council’s modernization efforts if not urgently addressed, urging the authorities to restore the portal and provide clear guidance to affected applicants.

“Officials had promised that the digital platform would eliminate long-standing bureaucratic bottlenecks and allow teachers to complete registration processes from the comfort of their homes”what happened to the millions of Naira invested in the creation of the portal”, the statement noted.

According to the group, reports indicate that the portal has suffered persistent technical failures since January 2026, leaving many users unable to access its services.

“Many affected educators say the situation has brought back the delays, paperwork, and administrative hurdles that the digital system was meant to eliminate”.

They noted that the setback is already affecting professional processes like promotions, transfers, and certification updates.

They also raised concerns among stakeholders, especially as TRCN continues discussions on its 2026–2028 Strategic Plan and broader plans to integrate digital tools and artificial intelligence into teaching support systems.

The stakeholders therefore called on the Dr. Soyombo’s led TRCN to urgently address the technical problems and provide clarity on the future of the portal, stressing that the credibility of teacher registration processes and the welfare of educators must not be compromised. (The Guardian)

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