The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has asked the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to increase the cut-off marks for candidates seeking admission to study education courses in Colleges of Educationand universities in the country.
TRCN expressed concern over the low cut-off marks for the education courses , saying it is necessary in order to make admission into colleges and faculties of education stricter.
Registrar/Chief Executive of TRCN Professor Segun Ajiboye who raised the concern, said it would ensure that the only the best brains enter the teaching profession.
"The UTME cut-off marks into colleges of education and faculties of education, if possible, should rank among the highest",he added.
The Professor of Social Studies, Civic and Environmental Studies was presenting the 488th inaugural lecture of the University of Ibadan entitled “Teaching: In the Classroom as a Regulator”, says lowering the cut-off for education courses will negatively affect the quality of people who teach Nigerian children.
The TRCN Registrar insisted that cut-off marks to education related courses should rank among the highest, to make it very competitive among candidates with high marks
According to him,“Admission into colleges of education and faculties of education in Nigeria should be stricter. The current practice is dangerous for the future of our education.
He stressed that “those who want to teach our children should be the best in our society and not the dregs".
Ajiboye calling for urgent review of teachers' education policy, to produce 21st century teachers
His words,“The hydra-headed crisis of quality and quantity of teachers demands a strong policy response. Rebuilding the system should take into account how the once cherished vocation, the mother of all professions should attract the best brains and retain them.”
He emphasised the need for review of teacher’s education programmes, to meet modern day challenges of globalization and post-COVID era.
“We must urgently do a review of our teacher education policy and program to produce teachers for the 21st century classroom. The rest of the world is not waiting for Nigeria. Professional training is critical, just as mastery of subject matter, teachers’ welfare and an environment that promotes learning.
Ajiboye also advocated proper regulation of teaching profession, to produce quality teachers in the country
"For this to be realized there is the need to regulate the teaching profession with a view to ensuring the provision of quality teachers for quality teaching and learning"
“It is, therefore, important to stress the fact that the need for a review of our teacher education program is long overdue. To meet the challenges of globalization, efforts should be put in place for an immediate review of the curricular, methodology, motivation and resources components of our program. Teaching today demands a lot more sophistication than previously, therefore pre-service teachers need to be adequately equipped to meet the classroom demands.
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