The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has expressed concern over educational policies of the federal and state governments affecting teacher education and called for caution to prevent extinction of the sub-sector.
The National President of the union, Dr Smart Olugbeko, who stated this against the backdrop of the recent adoption of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ijebu Ode, by the Federal Government and conversion of some state-owned colleges of education to degree awarding institutions, wondered why the government is running away from solving the challenge of teacher education in the country.
Describing government’s action as de-marketing colleges of education at the expense of universities, Olugbeko said the focus should be on tackling issues in the colleges and not rushing to convert them to universities.
He noted that the conversion of the colleges to universities without changing the national policy on education on the minimum qualification for teaching at various levels is deceptive.
Olugbeko reminded that the minimum qualification for teaching at the basic education level in Nigerian schools is still the National Certificate in Education (NCE).
“That is what they are trained for; to effectively handle pupils at this level; but if you are now asking degree holders to teach at the basic level, it may be difficult to get the desired results.
He maintained that converting colleges of education to full-fledged universities is not the solution to teacher deficit and shortage in the classrooms.
“This is the reason universities of education are unable to attract enough students to study education courses, prompting them to add non-education courses so draw more students.
“When you look at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) statistics too concerning the number of candidates who yearly apply for education courses, you will find out that they are always the lowest. The simple reason for this is that teachers are poorly treated, so much so that it has become unattractive to prospective undergraduates.”
Olugbeko stressed the need for government to make the teaching profession more attractive through improved welfare packages to woo the best brains.
