TRCN boss calls for synergy among education parastatals
The Registrar/Chief Executive, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, has called for synergy between education parastatals, saying it would help strengthen the education sector in the country.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Muyiwa Ojewuyi, the Head, Information and Public Relations of TRCN in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Registrar made this call when received a team of experts from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) whose mission was “Teacher Development’’ at the council’s headquarters in Abuja.
Ajiboye said that partnership with relevant agencies was important because TRCN’s target was to restore the lost glory of the nation’s education system though enhanced teacher quality.
He said that the council had championed series of Continuing Development Programmes for Nigerian teachers with the aim of exposing them to the rudiments of teacher education.
“TRCN is the right point of call when it comes to Teachers’ Development Programme. Our mission is to assure teacher excellence and professionalism at all levels of the nation’s education system through effective registration and licensing of teachers.’’
He said that the mission of the team “Teacher Development’’ was in line with the council’s primary area of concern.
He said that the council would do everything within its capacity to ensure that teachers got both pedagogical and ICT skills in the interest of the teachers, students and the nation.
“Students achievement is the predictor of teachers’ quality. Instead of quarrelling with students over mass failures in major exams in the country, the teachers should be taken up on this.
“It is absurd to not that 25, 000 unqualified teachers are currently teaching in a particular state of the federation,’’ he said.
Ajiboye said that TRCN would partner with the UK DFID on the new Teacher Development Programme and other related areas to develop the education sector in the country.
He, however, charged DFID to join in the call on employers of teachers to ensure that teachers participated in the Continuing Development Programmes being organised by TRCN and other relevant agencies.
Ms Nguyan Feese, the National Programme Manager said that the Teacher Development Programme was funded by DFID/UKAid.
Feese said that the team was charged with the objective to improve the quality of teaching in Primary and Junior Secondary Schools and Colleges of Education.
“The programme will help Nigeria improve the in-service training and support of primary and junior secondary schools and develop more effective teacher educators of primary and junior secondary school student teachers.
“It will also strengthen evidence based research informing decisions on teachers’ effectiveness and efficiency,’’ she said.
Feese said that the new project would build on and support all admirable work on teacher training already underway; reinforce it and bring new innovative training methods which had been successful in other countries.
“The intended impact of the programme is to improve student learning. This will be achieved through the outcome of creating more effective teachers,’’ he said.
She said that the theory of change adopted by the team included: Pre-service, Management and In-Service.
Feese noted that the three areas covered more effective teachers, better use of evidence data, learning outcome and improved classroom practices.
She said that the team hoped to implement the new Nigerian Certificate in Education curriculum and implement the quality assurance standards set out by the Universal Basic Education Commission.
“We will also implement a professional development programme to enhance and update teacher educators’ skills and most importantly create closer links between States Universal Basic Education Boards, CEOs and school.’’
