Stakeholders in Nigeria’s Education sector have called for increase in Teachers salaries to encourage more students to enroll at Colleges of Education across the country
They made the call during a workshop in Abuja, organized by the Education Correspondent Association of Nigeria, (ECAN) with the theme: “A Practical Approach to Teacher Education: Challenges of Low Students Enrollment in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.”
The Public Communication Adviser at JAMB, Fabian Benjamin, while presenting a paper on “Low Students Enrollment into Colleges of Education: 2023 UMTE as Case Study,” agreed on welfare for teachers, especially an increase in their salaries to increase enrollment at the colleges of Education as they are crucial for basic education.
“The government should look into creating more incentives for teachers in the form of robust salary structures and other welfare packages, which will invariably attract enrollment into NCE programs,” he said.
Benjamin, advocated that Part-time Teachers’ training and other crash programmes be discouraged for Teachers as they reduce enrollment into colleges of Education to obtain National Certificate for Education (NCE)
He called for two Federal Colleges of Education in each of the North West, North East, and North Central Zones be upgraded to Teachers’ University while one be upgraded in each of the other three zones to improve enrollment.
“All Universities of Education in Nigeria should continue to offer NCE concurrently with the degree programs and not abandon NCE since Universities run pre-degree which is pre-SSC,” he said.
According to him, the one size fits all is not recommended for the NCE programs, stressing that the NCE syllabus remains relevant and appropriate for teaching at the basic education level, as such the elimination or replacement with a degree is not recommended.
“Also NCCE, NBTE, and JAMB be represented on the Board of NUC for the purpose, of synergy and consistency in Policy on technical and teacher education
“The NCCE to metamorphose into the National Teachers Commission, which should supervise and regulate National Teachers’ Institute and other Colleges of Education
“There is a need to realistically review the minimum entry requirement into the NCE program to arrest high levels of forgery and falsification of results.”
He urged Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) to continue to improve professional standards of the teaching profession.
The Registrar, TRCN Professor Josiah Ajiboye in his opening remark said the theme of the Workshop is apt, essential and strategic to contemporary education demands as it speaks to the present drive to raise educational quality, standards and best practices.
He said teacher education needs a practical approach to achieve these purposes as the issue of the quality of enrollment in faculties of education currently calls for concern.
“At a time when the educational sector is facing some challenges, policy formulation should emphasize problem-solving techniques, critical thinking, imagination, creativity, digital literacy, and remote learning.
“The 21st-century teaching should essentially be focussed on student-centered learning processes through practical problems solving techniques.”
He equally urged the government and stakeholders to provide a platform where students will be educated and enlightened about value systems that have been eroded over the years in the pursuit of materialism.
“Training to become an entrepreneur should be highlighted. The curriculum should also be redesigned to meet the contemporary needs of the student.
“It is the time for every hand to be on deck, a time for everyone to contribute his or her quota to this issue in our education sector or we will all pay for it,” he said.
He commended ECAN for being a long-standing partner in the development of the education sector in Nigeria.
The Chairman of the ECAN, Mr. Chuks Ukwuatu in his welcome address said the Workshop was organized to build capacity for members on contemporary issues in the education sector.
An Education Specialist/Teacher, Mr Smith Bam while presenting a paper on the theme said; “If children do not find role models in any profession, enrollment will be low.
“Most students will sit down and fill their JAMB form and their first choice will not be teaching because of the poor outlook.
“Until teachers are compensated to the salary of medical Doctors, enrollment in Nigeria will continue to be low.”
He commended the efforts of the TRCN, but said better results would be achieved when teachers’ compensation is enhanced stressing the need to bring teachers up to speed of the 21st century by improving the school curriculum while urging teachers themselves to develop an appetite for reading, as school inspectors should also demonstrate proficiency by updating their knowledge
“We have situation where students and teachers are wrestling with 20-year-old archaic curriculum. This not good for us now and our future.”
The workshop was sponsored by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria
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