Educationist Advocates Improvement In Quality Of Teacher Education

An educationist, Prof. Yemi Akinkuotu, has urged Colleges of Education in the country to establish and foster a culture of quality in teacher education.

Akinkuotu, a lecturer at Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo, gave this charge at the 11th Annual National Conference of Colleges of Education Academics Staff Union (COEASU) on Wednesday, in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference was “The Future of Teacher Education in a Sustainable World”.

He said that more emphasis should be put on how to learn basic principles with a dynamic curricular system.

“Students should be encouraged to use the information provided by technology.

“They should be exposed to school practices such as micro-teaching, videotaped and classroom interaction.

“Good education unlocks the key to modernisation and good teachers hold the key to the door of delivery of good education.

“Good teachers are needed for good education, which in turn is indispensable for social change, social transformation, and national development,’’ Akinkuotu said.

He said that the theme of the conference was truly relevant now as teacher education has been adversely affected by crises.

“This millennium poses challenges to teacher education and the teaching profession.

“Good education is the product of good teaching and the success of a classroom depends largely on the qualities of the teacher and his professional competence.’’

According to him, a well-groomed teacher is a viable tool for effective education delivery while the development of human resources for sustainable development is highly influenced by education.

Teachers, Akinkuotu said, are major drivers of development through teaching, counseling, designing, and implementing educational policies and objectives that can ensure sustainability.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Victor Akinola, said that the basic ingredient that can attract people to the teaching profession must be a satisfactory project.

Akinola, lecturer at the School of Education, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), said that the satisfactory project should involve proprietors, education managers, and teachers among others.

“If education is considered as the engine of national growth, then teachers are educational engineers,’’ he said.