Nigeria demonstrating leadership in teaching standardisation – AFTRA

Fri, Aug 2, 2019
By publisher
4 MIN READ

Politics

THE Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA), says Nigeria is demonstrating continental leadership in the area of standardisation of the teaching profession.

The Executive Director of AFTRA, Prof. Steve Nwokeocha, stated this on Friday in Enugu at a stakeholder’s workshop for teachers and education managers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the workshop, which ended on Friday, focused on drafting a final copy of the Career Path Policy for Nigerian teachers.

Nwokeocha said that Nigeria was the first African country to make laws regulating the teaching profession, and also the first to set up a regulatory body – the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) – in 2010.

According to him, Nigeria is also the first African country to come up with “ full-fledged professional standards’’ for its teaching workforce.

“It is heartwarming that Nigeria has led in these critical areas, working closely with South Africa and Kenya, which are the two strong competitors in the continent,’’ he said.

He said that if the proposed Career Path Policy sailed through, Nigeria would also be the first country in the continent to have such working document.

NAN reports that if approved, the policy is expected to ensure a shift from promotion of teachers based on years of service, to one based on career development.

Under the policy, teachers will also be expected to progress through four stages – beginner, proficiency, mentorship and distinguished leader – spending a minimum of five year in each stage.

The AFTRA director expressed confidence that the policy would transform teaching and learning in the country, and make teachers work harder and students to learn better.

Nwokeocha urged the stakeholders to make the document simple, focused and devoid of too much demands, adding that it should also contain basic principles that would help teachers to move from one stage to another.

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Sonny Echono, in his remark, stated that the teaching profession was “pivotal to the quality of education delivery in any country’’.

Echono said that creating a new teacher career structure would promote high levels of teacher collaboration.

“The country is desirous of citizens who have expertise beyond manipulating information and data; we want experts who can also think creatively and conceptually and make meaning, as well as interact with symbols.

“We, therefore, need teachers who are empowered to develop creative solutions with their colleagues, and who will work together to solve problems and make meaning from a wide array of student learning data.”

Mrs. Veronica Adediran, Chief Teacher Development Officer, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), said that the proposed policy was long overdue, and called for the buy-in of stakeholders.

“We have been craving for this career path policy for a long time; now that it is here, all stakeholders in the educational sector should support it.

“We always have good policies in this country, but when it comes to implementation, that is where we always have problems.

“I want to plead with the federal, state and local governments to let this policy work so that this country can develop,” she said.

Dr Muhammad Badar, Provost, Kogi State College of Education, said that the policy would revolutionise the teaching profession in Nigeria if approved and implemented.

“Nigeria is not an easy country; once you have a good policy, you need to continue following it until it is well implemented.

“Funding is another issue because making the teaching profession attractive involves money. If teachers are catered for, good hands will naturally come in,” he said.

NAN reports that the workshop brought together representatives of TRCN, UBEC, NMEC, NUT, UNESCO, Nigeria Teachers Institute, Ministries of Education, and lecturers from higher institutions, among others. (NAN)

– Aug. 2, 2019 @ 15:25 GMT |

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