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Why we revised curriculum–NCCE

The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) on Thursday said that the commission had revised its curriculum to enhance the production of specialised teachers in all colleges of education. NCCE’s Acting Executive Secretary, Dr Alex Meyanga, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the commission was moving away from the era…

Nigeria educationThe National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) on Thursday said that the commission had revised its curriculum to enhance the production of specialised teachers in all colleges of education.

NCCE’s Acting Executive Secretary, Dr Alex Meyanga, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the commission was moving away from the era of producing teachers in general subjects to that of specialised disciplines.

He said that the review of the curriculum would enable teachers to specialise in a particular field unlike the general teaching techniques to improve the quality of teaching.

Meyanga said that the NCCE had also introduced early childhood care education for teachers at the primary school level.

“We have reviewed our curriculum recently; we are moving away from what we call generalist teachers to specialist teachers.

“We have started producing teachers for early childhood care education; once you graduate, you are qualified to teach or handle children at that basic level.

“The commission is training teachers for junior primary and junior secondary schools; we are training teachers for adult and non-formal education,’’ he said.

Meyanga said that the NCCE was producing enough qualified teachers, but regretted that some state governments were not employing such competent teachers in schools.

He said that there were a lot of teachers roaming the streets without employment, adding that some schools preferred unqualified teachers, to cut cost.

“In a country like Finland, there could be about two to three teachers in a classroom; they value education, so, they employ adequate teachers.

“The number of pupils or students you have in a classroom will determine what quality of teachers or the grade of such teachers you want to employ.

“We do not employ teachers; it is the Universal Basic Education Commission that employs them.

“The country has enough teachers; in fact, there are a lot of teachers roaming the streets without employment.

“The problem we have is that, maybe some state governments are not recruiting the teachers we have, otherwise, we have enough teachers.

“We are producing quality teachers in our colleges of education,’’ Meyanga said.

The NCCE boss blamed the recent drop in enrolment level of students into colleges of education on the attitude of the society toward the teaching profession.

“Why will it not be low, because of what the society is doing to their teachers?

“Not until recently, some teachers were not paid their salaries for months; nobody will want to be in that kind of profession, especially the youths.

“It is the government’s intervention that is keeping the primary school running; otherwise, they will not get their salaries.

“Even as I speak, there are some states that have not paid their teachers,’’ he said.

Meyanga lamented that discrimination against colleges of education would have adverse effect on Nigeria’s education system.

“Discriminating against the teaching profession is not good for national prosperity and national economic growth.

“The teachers are very strategic; without them, we all will not be what we are today.

“Even those who are making laws for the teachers today were taught by teachers. And until Nigerians take our teachers seriously, we will remain where we are.

“In developed countries, like Finland, Britain, U.S. and Canada, people struggle to become teachers; because the value attached to the profession is excellent,’’ he said.

He said that developed countries were making discoveries, innovations in science, ICT, engineering and medicine because they gave high regard to their education.

“If Nigerians give regard to education, they will honour and respect our teachers,’’ he said.

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