Education
THE Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), says it is working on strategies toward the development of the teaching profession in the country.
Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, Registrar of the Council made this known on Tuesday at a one-day media workshop organised by the TRCN in collaboration with the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN) in Karu, Nasarawa.
The theme of the workshop was “Regulating the Teaching Profession in the COVID-19 era.’’
Ajiboye, represented by Dr. Magaji Waziri, the Assistant Director, Department of Planning, Research and Statistics in the council, said there was a need to address the challenge of teachers’ professionalism during the pandemic.
“The theme seeks to address the burning issue of the teaching profession in the period of a pandemic. The issue of the teaching profession has been in the front burner in recent years.
“The workshop is apt, highly commendable and the transformative tendencies it could bring will address the issues through a functional programme of the TRCN.’’
The registrar tasked teachers on intellectual preparation as well as improving themselves for the good of the profession, adding that they had a task which must be translated to quality education in the country.
Also speaking, Mr. Adamu Bello, TRCN’s Director of Professional Operations, who spoke on the role of TRCN in regulating the teaching profession in the COVID-19 era, called for a viable policy for the development of the profession.
Bello, represented by Dr. Abimbola Okunola, an Assistant Director in the council, said the country needed to refocus the conversation on developing the critical sector.
He said that this could be done by identifying national education vision that will drive processes and investment, adding that the country’s educational sector must be tailored to meet her needs.
“Our policy is in comatose, we should stop putting blame on the government. We can advice and come up with the best solutions that can lead to the advancement of the country.
“The future of our nation is determined by the quality of its education system because our schools produce leaders in all areas.
“By March 25, 165 countries closed down schools, 1.5 billion children asked to stay at home. 45 million teachers in Nigeria are also asked to stay at home and two million private school teachers are left without any means of sustenance.
“It calls for everybody to look inward on what can be done to change the curve. It is time for Nigeria to refocus the conversation that will drive processes and investment in the sector.’’
He added that the council had conducted professional examinations for more than 15,000 teachers across the federation between July 21 and July 27, in a bid to promote professionalism.
Bello, therefore, called on the National Assembly to look at the council’s submission on the Act establishing the operation of education in the country.
He said that the council’s operations could not be confined to registration alone, noting that more work on regulations were being done in the interest of the teaching profession.
NAN
Aug. 11, 2020 | 14:50
Tags: Teaching: TRCN working on strategies to enhance profession — registrar
