Abstract

The effective regulation of teaching practice is central to ensuring teacher professionalism, instructional quality, and quality assurance in Nigeria’s education sector. This study critically evaluated the implementation of the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) regulatory framework, examining teacher registration, certification, licensing, and continuous professional development (CPD), as well as the systemic, institutional, and policy-related challenges that hinder compliance. A descriptive survey design was adopted, targeting 1,179 teachers across 325 public and 854 private schools in Nigeria. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential analyses, including Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression. The findings revealed that while registration and certification were relatively well implemented, licensing and CPD exhibited moderate compliance levels. Weak enforcement, limited CPD access, inadequate ICT infrastructure, financial constraints, low policy awareness, and policy inconsistencies were identified as significant barriers to full implementation. Regression analyses showed that these challenges significantly influenced teacher professionalism, instructional quality, and overall quality assurance (p < 0.05). The study concludes that the TRCN regulatory framework is essential for professionalising teaching in Nigeria, but its effectiveness is constrained by systemic and institutional limitations. Recommendations include strengthening enforcement and monitoring mechanisms, expanding CPD access, improving infrastructure, harmonising policies, and providing financial and technical support to teachers. These measures are critical for enhancing teacher competence, professional ethics, and the overall quality of education in Nigeria.