Mr. Samuel Akindele, former, National President, College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has urged both Federal and State Governments to consider an upgrade of the National Certificate in Education (NCE).
Akindele said this could be achieved by making it a four-year degree programme, be it in the college or in the university system.
Akindele, also a Chief Lecturer, Department of History, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) gave the advice during his exaugural lecture, organised by the COEASU on Friday in Lagos.
The theme of the lecture is Historical Perspective And Future of Teacher in The 21st Century.
According to him, the recommendation if considered, will attract the best brains in education and solve the problem of selection and retention of competent people in the teaching profession.
“A situation where students who are not qualified to enter the universities and Colleges of Technology are reserved for Faculties and Colleges of Education, should not be encouraged.
“If need be, the number of years for the training of teachers should be five, including one full year of teaching practice, to accord them the insignia of true professionals.
“Teaching should be made an attractive profession in terms of remuneration and provision of essential tools of the practice of the trade.
“Teaching should be professionalised over time, as against the present all-comers job,” Akindele said.
Reviewing the state of teaching in schools currently, he added that some teachers possessed higher certificates, but the quality of their products appeared low and unattractive.
“We have teachers with Ph.D/Masters degrees in both primary and secondary schools, which means that certain things are missing besides the teachers’ certificate and qualification.
“There can be little doubt that education is the key to the development of a people’s ability to manage and induce change while facing the challenges of making choices.
“For the country’s education system to become more relevant to our development process, it must train the individual for a better appreciation of his own cultural tradition,” Akindele said.
He advised his colleagues and union leaders, to enthrone peace at all times and dissipate their energies toward making AOCOED a unique model, amongst the community of Colleges of Education in Nigeria.
Mr. Olusegun Lana, National Vice-President, and southwest Zonal Coordinator, COEASU, described Akindele as an icon and a living legend in the union.
Lana, a lecturer at Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, said that Akindele conceived and laid the foundation of COEASU, by assisting to access funds, infrastructural development, personnel development, as well as attention from the government and the public.
Mr. Ige Ajayi, Chairman, COEASU AOCOED Chapter also described Akindele as a friendly, fair, and firm leader in the college and union.
Ajayi said that Akindele had sacrificed a lot for union members by putting people first, before himself.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Akindele was appointed in Dec.1985, to teach History, in Lagos State College of Education now Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education(AOCOED), Ijanikin
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