Problems and Prospects of Teacher’s Education in Nigeria

In this article we review the problems and prospects of teachers education in Nigeria. This is information is useful to policy makers in the education system in Nigeria as well for researchers.

Problems and Prospects of Teachers Education in Nigeria – Introduction 

It is a given that education, being the bedrock upon which every development revolved needs improvement in order to attain success in every sectors of the economy, including human development.

In a view of this, Nigeria cannot be an exception, given some challenges staring at the education sector in Nigeria, there are some set of mission for every education.

Teachers, as facilitators of education need this understanding, and in attaining that specified education, teachers need empowerment to know how to treat every child in the class hence, teachers education is of utmost important in order to inculcate in teachers the special skills of treating children according to their condition of learning with social equity.

This will help them to understand each child’s learning needs, and impart knowledge to develop in school children the social skills and independent living.

Teachers need specific competence. This is why the issue of diversity is important in the class room. Teachers are duty bound as education facilitators to response to students competently because students have diverse needs.

Hence, it is important to train teachers in all curricular programmes, beginning from pre-service prospective teachers, teachers in service among other teachers’ educational programmes. Teachers’ knowledge and skills should be emphasized in that, the import of teachers education is for the school children to learn properly, and for teachers training programmes to be a success, teachers should have expectation as they develop teaching programmes with different teaching techniques and support system for learners.

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What is education?

Education is the process of acquiring knowledge and skills from any subject or course of interest, such that will help provide some sort of understanding about life and the knowledge about one’s environment.

Definition of teacher

A teacher is that professional, who instruct, and teach and help learners acquire skill and knowledge.

Problems of teachers education in Nigeria

1. Lack of funding

Lack of funding of teachers’ education programmes has been a major problem staring at teachers’ education in Nigeria, this challenge make for poor quality education that lacks the capacity of ensuring enduring growth and development.

Report and statistics had it that teachers education is relegated in Nigeria and that it has not gotten proper attention from the government.

Government expenditure on teachers’ education is low, about 12 percent (12%) upon all the revenue accruing to the nation, a considerable amount of money cannot be appropriated to teachers’ education.

So I think lack of commitment on the part of the government towards teachers’ education is what that has continued to hamper education development in Nigeria.

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2. Lack of responsibility and control

Another problem of teachers education in Nigeria is about who control what, the issue of who control what has been causing the conflict between federal, state and local government in the administration of teachers education in Nigeria.

One may ask whether the management of teachers’ education programmes is fully and solely vested in the hands of the federal government, or state government or local government. The answer is no.

This has been one of the challenges facing education development in Nigeria, and has posed strong barrier to successful and effective growth in the Nigerian education sector.

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3. Teachers’ instability

Again, another problem of teacher education in Nigeria has led to decrease in the numbers of teachers in the Nigerian primary and secondary schools, and this has brought about negative impact in the Nigerian education system.

The problem of inadequate attention to teachers’ education is what has brought teachers instability in the Nigerian schools.

This unstable situation is a grave issue and has hampered educational development. But if one may look closely into this problem one will discover that the condition of service is not attractive enough hence, there is a possibility of teachers looking for alternative of combining teaching job with other businesses, even during school hours.

To my mind, one of the teachers’ inducements is quality training that will expose them to see teaching profession as the best among all others.

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Prospects of teachers education in Nigeria

Teachers are to improve education in Nigeria. Therefore, teachers’ education will prepare them with the essential teaching component of the 21^st century.

1. Strong commitment to teaching practice

As facilitators of education, training will imbued in them that sense of commitment needed in their professional practice. Education with high content will exposed the teachers to the need of the students as they become sensitive to the learning environment.

The principle of diversity will play out as they see school environment as a point where people from different background converged. This understanding will engender meaningful relationship among the teachers and the learners, including parents and guidants.

This will help impact students’ academic work positively with high expectations hence; positive learning environment will ensure continuous improvement of education in Nigerian schools.

This is why teachers’ education is a necessity as it will bring about successful experience of teaching and learning within education community.

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2. Attaining to students’ needs competently

No two individuals are the same, no! Teachers’ education will well positioned teachers with this understanding to recognize the differences among the school children in the class, and as well attain to their needs individually. It will help promote learning.

This understanding is one of the knowledge acquired through teachers’ education and training programmes. The aspect of knowledge that will make the teachers condescend to the students’ level, see themselves as one of them hence, ensure co-operation, full participation in learning in the class room.

Teachers’ education is very important because knowledge in dynamic and the changes in skills and knowledge, for example, the modern techniques of learning and teaching called for knowledge up date because of its role in the overall improvement of education in Nigeria. The teachers’ education is what enriches teachers individually.

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3. Teachers promotion

Teachers’ education encourages teachers’ promotion, because what takes an individual up the ladder of his profession is good knowledge and competency, it is what he knows better and the ability to solve problems and take decisions.

In the case of teachers’ education, the programmes help in inculcating a shared knowledge that makes them to take actions such that will help improve the school system and learning ability.

Conclusions and Suggestions

Just in a statement, educational development is what Nigeria craves for, but the achievement of this laudable task lies in teachers’ education.

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