Prof. Tunji Olaopa, the chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, has said that Nigeria’s education system has to be completely redesigned in order to close the growing skills gap.
He criticises the vague definition of a teacher as well as the current policies in place. Olaopa emphasises that in order to successfully fulfil the needs of national development, universities, colleges of education, and polytechnics must adopt a balanced strategy.
Prof. Olaopa made this observation in an address given during a courtesy call by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) in Abuja. She pointed out that although policy development has advanced, notably with the creation of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, the basic question of what defines a teacher still needs to be addressed.
He emphasised how the focus on university education has overshadowed the important vocational skills offered by other schools, and he has called for a change in emphasis from certification to real-world skills.
Although Olaopa points out the institutional difficulties involved, he suggests converting education colleges into degree-granting establishments.
In addition, he stressed the significance of protecting NCE credentials from marginalisation and proposed the creation of a single regulatory body to supervise revolutionary adjustments that meet the needs of the contemporary workforce.
Dr. Smart Olugbeko, the president of COEASU, emphasises the value of collaborative advancement in teacher education, recognising the critical role of all stakeholders and promoting inclusivity in the development of Nigeria’s educational environment.
We think that in order to proceed, all pertinent parties must be included. We recognise and appreciate the critical contribution your commission played in influencing teacher preparation. We firmly believe that inclusivity is essential and that everyone has a responsibility to participate. For this reason, we are giving you the responsibility of presiding over our next national conference and workshop, which will bring together all of Nigeria’s education colleges.
Although there are still difficulties, Nigerian teacher education is in a strong position. The way society views education has a big influence on how effective it is. Government support, in particular, is still insufficient. Education is the cornerstone of prosperity and progress in any modern civilization, the speaker stated.