Persons who have lost opportunities at getting a white-collar job turn to teaching, and that has been identified as one of the reasons for the low quality of Teachers in Nigeria. The Teachers Registration Council have been applauded for ensuring that those who must take up teaching as a job must be properly trained and certified as a teacher.
This was disclosed by Mrs Ijeoma Patience Onwuama, the Exams Officer Senior School while presenting a paper at an event organized by Command Secondary School Jos on Thursday 5th October 2023 to mark the 2023 World Teachers’ Day.
While speaking on the topic added that the kind of teachers needed must be those who possessed 21st Century Skills for education such as Teacher-Student Collaboration, Emotional Intelligence, the knowledge and application of ICT, Electronic Media in Planning and Executing lessons as well as the ability to lead and motivate students among many others skills.
While speaking to Journalists shortly after the event, she also added the need to motivate teachers in order for them to give out their best in the development of students in the current rapidly changing world.
While making his remark the Commandant of Command Secondary School Jos, Lt Col Afekunle Udoyemi reminded teachers present of their individual and collective sacrifices as teachers towards shaping the students and nation. He added in his own words that “To this end I want to passionately appeal to teachers to keep the light burning and remain focused and resolute towards attaining the general educational goals and philosophy”.
He noted that teaching is a very challenging enterprise which requires a lot of patience, hard work and dedication, while hailing teachers for always being there for their students guiding them through their struggles and celebrating their successes. He congratulated teachers for their unwavering support and guidance to teaching their students. He extended his gratitude to teachers within the Nigeria Army who according to him have positively impacted on so many lives who will be forever indebted and grateful.
Col Joseph Bamidele Ajanaku Rtd a former Administrative Officer of Command Secondary School Jos called for the development of an educational system with localized Nigerian and African standards which according to him was the only way to improve the system. He applauded the educational system so far but noted that more can be done.
While highlighting the theme of the 2023 World Teachers’ Day, he noted that in his own words “The teachers of today may not be available tomorrow, the teacher of the future should become more adaptive to his or her environment. What we should be looking for today are teachers that will act as leaders in the education sector, teachers who will no longer be managers of children but leaders, motivators, mentors, nurturers of our children. Those are the teachers we are looking for, seriously teachers should get prepared. In the future they might not be able to handle the students that are more informed, better informed, more educated than them”.
Vice Principal of Command Secondary School Jos, Mrs Ngozi Agha while welcoming the teachers of the school to the event urged teachers to be proud of their profession since they were the ones who train all other professions. She however lamented the negative social treatment given to teachers. She urged the public to change their perception of teachers and accord them the respect they deserve.
Nigeria Star News 