Nigeria needs teachers transformation through colleges of education – Don
A Former Director, Centre for Excellence, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Dr Salihu Bakari Girei has advocated teacher transformation through the colleges of education for human and national development.
Girei stated this while delivering a lecture at the 7th Pre-Convocation Lecture of the Federal College of Education (FCE) Yola, noting that a strong teacher workforce will develop learning.
The theme of the lecture was “From teacher training to teacher transformation: Re–imaging Nigeria’s colleges of education for quality education and national development in the 21st century.
The former TETFund director said that a strong teacher workforce can also contribute to innovation, social cohesion and economic productivity.
“The teacher of the 21st century must be more than a transmitter of information.
“The teacher must become a learning designer, facilitator, mentor, researcher, reflective practitioner, community builder and ethical user of technology,” he said.
He noted that the transformation of colleges of education should be an investment in Nigeria’s long-term development architecture, not merely as an internal institutional reform.
“The new teacher under the proposed transformation framework should be able to simultaneously design learning rather than merely delivering content.
“He or she should use assessment to diagnose and improve learning; interpret and apply educational evidence.
“The new teacher should collaborate across professional boundaries; engage families and communities and develop practical solutions.” he said.
Girei noted that the new teacher should reflect systematically on practice; mentor peers, contribute to professional ethical, inclusive and lifelong learning,” he said.
