Education
Teachers Want FG To Re-establish TTC
Teachers last Wednesday called on the Federal Government to improve the quality of teaching by re-establishing Teachers Training Colleges (TTCs) in the country.
The National Publicity Secretary of the NUT, Mr. Suleiman Gambari made the call in Abuja in an interview with newsmen.
He said that one of the factors responsible for the decline in quality teaching in schools was because teachers no longer go through the required professional training at the TTCs.
Gambari said the issue of the decline in education could only be addressed from the root and that hinged on the training of teachers.
The publicity secretary said teachers who did not go through the basic rudiments of training were as good as empty and so, could not give what they didn’t have.
“The issue of Teachers Training Colleges needs to be addressed first. That basic education training for teachers needs to be there and that is the best way to start tackling this problem.
“The issue is not just asking someone who has just finished secondary school to go for NCE, because the crop of very good teachers we have now all went through teachers training colleges,” he said.
Gambari, who also spoke on the development of education in the last 50 years, said: “Education in the country has no doubt matured, although it is moving at a slow pace, the government still needs to do more.
“More has to be done in terms of incentives to teachers, provision of instructional materials and conducive learning and teaching environment, among others,” he said.
Mr. Christopher Ezeuzo, a Principal from Abia State, told newsmen that the Teachers Training College was the best place to address the myriad of problems facing the education sector.
“The teacher had his respect in the past, but these days he is losing it due to the porous nature of the profession and the poor income.
“All these things affect the present condition of the teacher and it makes the society to look down on him and that ultimately affects his psyche and his productivity,” Ezeuzo said.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.