‘Teacher education, crucial to socio-economic growth’

Provost, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos, Dr. Omolola Ladele, has stated that teacher education is critical to socio-economic development of any nation, hence the need for it to be amply prioritised.

Ladele who disclosed this at the 2018/2019 matriculation of fulltime Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) students, where 1300 freshmen were inaugurated into various schools of the college said producing skilled teachers will not only drive economic growth strategy of a country, but will also define it’s capacity to attain Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She highlighted that no matter how huge the budgetary allocation to the sector is, if teacher education is relegated to the background success may not be achieved.

She charged the newly admitted students of the college to dress smartly and conduct themselves in good manner as future teachers that will transform the socio-economic and political landscape of the country.

She said, “Teacher education is an essential driver of economic, social and political development, the world over. This underscores the absolute commitment of the college to quality teacher education service delivery. We parade well-trained teaching and non-teaching staff, and implement adequate curricula for socially responsive teacher education.

“Teachers are indispensable in every nation, education unlocks the door to modernisation, and it is the teacher who holds the key to that door. Even if we have a huge allocation to the sector, the best planning, policies and designs, the ultimate realisation of any set of aims for education still depends on the teacher.”

Speaking on the numerous achievement of the school, Ladele said AOCOED has remained a prominent source of idea generation to other colleges of education in the country.

“We have become leadership model not only because we take the lead in the process of NCCE curriculum development, but more so because we are active in the process of curriculum implementation. The role of the college in the development of the current national minimum standards for the Pre-NCE curriculum in the country remains a feat in the teaching industry ,” she said.

Highlighting that that in the 2018 accreditation exercise that the college had all its 31 programmes fully accredited, the provost urged the new intakes to work hard, pray and be of good behaviour so as to achieve success.