Need for reinvention of teacher education stressed

…As Corona College graduates 134
As technology, digitization and innovations alter the traditional method of teaching and disrupt the original setting in the workplace, stakeholders have stressed the need to urgently transform teacher education to these shifts.They made this known at the 2019 convocation of Corona College of Education, Ilupeju, where 134 graduates received certificates and diplomas in various programmes for the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 academic sessions.

Stakeholders at the ceremony themed, “Reinventing teacher education for a constantly changing world,” argued that since technology has transformed almost all the activities of the world, teacher education should be redesigned to incorporate these trends in the interest of the Nigerian child.

The guest speaker, Dr. Emmanuel Olakunle Filani said it is important to review and reinvent teacher-training methodology in the country, considering the technological disruptions and the numerous challenges confronting the sector.Stating that experts must be engaged in doing this, he advised that emphasis should be placed on curriculum, administration, leadership and admission process.

Deputy Chairman, Corona College of Education Governing Council, Dr. Alero Robert, said the time is long overdue as no nation can grow beyond its educational system.

“The truth of the matter is any country that wants to see real development must look at the education sector, teachers are the bedrock of development right from elementary stage. If you have good teachers, you have good products, if not, it will be disastrous. Also, the world is changing rapidly, the way we are teaching the contemporary pupils differs from the way pupils were taught in the past, today’s teachers must be aware of these changes and it must reflect in their teachings.

“It was the continuous need for professional teachers that prompted the establishment of the college. In recent times, the teaching profession more or less became a dumping ground of people who are waiting to get jobs in other sector.  That is not the quality of teachers our children need. They need those who are committed to their optimal growth, who are abreast of the global trends, make them lifelong learners and instill in them those principles of integrity, courtesy and good behaviours that carry them through even into adulthood.”

Chief Executive Officer, Corona Schools’ Trust Council, Mrs. Adedoyin Adesina noted that in reinventing teacher education, focus must be on methodology, materials and resources, including the readiness of students.“There is no better time to talk about reinvention of education generally than now. We are looking at how education has evolved, what the technology is doing, the new jobs, new roles, new skills that are required for existing jobs and even jobs that have not yet been determined for the future.

‘In the past, pupils were receptive and education was teacher-centred, but today education is pupil-led, so teachers need to rethink how to deliver learning and achieve optimum result. All these are the things we infused and introduced in our teachers’ college,” Adesina said.