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Educationist laments rising quackery among teachers

By Anietie Akpan, Calabar
26 May 2016   |   4:14 am
The rising tide of quacks masquerading as teachers in the country’s education system remains a potent source of pain to the director of Bridge End International School, Calabar, Cross River State ...
Director, Bridge End International School, Calabar, Cross River State, Dr. Margaret Ndoma-Egba, flanked by winner in the boys’ category, Edikan-Abasi Anietie Akpan, (left); Mary Eneji, who won the girls’ category and Nmesomachim Domingo, winner junior category (phonics). Others are Rejoice Ikpi, second runner up (girls); Divine Etim Bassey second runner up (boys) and first runner up girls, Nkami Bankoli Bankong , first runner up, during the Face of Education programme, which is aimed at building confidence and educational skills in pupils

Director, Bridge End International School, Calabar, Cross River State, Dr. Margaret Ndoma-Egba, flanked by winner in the boys’ category, Edikan-Abasi Anietie Akpan, (left); Mary Eneji, who won the girls’ category and Nmesomachim Domingo, winner junior category (phonics). Others are Rejoice Ikpi, second runner up (girls); Divine Etim Bassey second runner up (boys) and first runner up girls, Nkami Bankoli Bankong , first runner up, during the Face of Education programme, which is aimed at building confidence and educational skills in pupils

The rising tide of quacks masquerading as teachers in the country’s education system remains a potent source of pain to the director of Bridge End International School, Calabar, Cross River State, Dr. Margaret Ndoma-Egba.

Speaking in Calabar, shortly after her school finished tops at the just concluded Face of Education programme, Ndoma-Egba, also slammed the country’s basic education curriculum, saying it falls short of what the country really needs.

While stressing that the time has come to restructure the country’s education curriculum and eliminate quacks from the system so as to lift child education, Ndoma-Egba, who is also proprietress of the school said the continuous use of a “one-sided nursery/primary school curriculum,” as well as inadequate facilities in most schools across the country only succeeds in making a bad situation worse.

Ndoma-Egba, who holds a doctorate in education, pointed out that the future of child education in the country remains bleak since “all manner of quacks, half-baked teachers and complete illiterate have found themselves in this all-important field.”

“Curriculum of schools in Nigeria should actually be tailored towards the jobs that we expect to do tomorrow. There is no need spending years on a curriculum that is veering towards one direction whereas what you would actually do in life is veering towards another direction.

“Government should provide enough facilities and create the right environment conducive for learning because it is only in a conducive environment that one could bring up children who would be leaders of tomorrow,” she stated.

The proprietress added that, “Education should not be seen as a dumping ground for anybody who is looking for something to put in his pocket. Stakeholders, teachers and education managers should be wholeheartedly dedicated to their calling. Registered teachers should be made thoroughbred professionals after undergoing in-depth training. There should be no short cut in training of teachers if our educational system must do well.”

Ndoma-Egba, who said, “I am not an advocate of sandwich and National Teachers Institute (NTI) programmes,” added, “I do not condemn them, but how many credit hours do they spend on Saturdays to prepare someone who would teach our children. So, for me, the basic qualification for teachers should be National Certificate in Education (NCE). Teachers should be well grounded in their profession… and the fire brigade approach to education matter should be avoided.”

In the just concluded Face of Education programme organised by Ultra Real-Hope Resources, to promote talent realisation and sharpen educational skills, more than 20 schools took part and Bridge End International school came out tops in two of the three events featured.

In the Boys category of Face of Education Pageantry, Edikan-Abasi Anietie Akpan emerged winner in the boys contest, and Mary Eneyi Eneji carried the day in the girl’s category.

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