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The Federal Government has approved the Dual Mode of concurrently running degree and Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes in colleges of education in Nigeria.
Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges Education (NCCE), Professor Paulinus Chijioke, made this known on Friday at the 2024 National Teachers’ Day celebration organised by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COASU).
He explained that the development was aimed at improving access to teacher education, arresting low enrolment, and ensuring quality production of professional teachers in the country.
Chijioke also emphasised the need to continue to elevate the status of the teaching profession, ensuring that it attracts the brightest and most passionate individuals.
President of COEASU, Dr Smart Olugbeko, in his speech, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assenting to the Colleges of Education Establishment Act, which granted the college of education system autonomy to award degrees in teacher education concurrently with the previous NCE.
“In line with the implications of the dual mandate, we have continually charged all members of our union to refocus towards higher academic attainments, professional excellence, and productivity.
“Let me put it on record that pursuant to the degree awarding status, our Union initiated an upward review in the criteria for career progression for College of Education lecturers with a view to ensuring that the qualifications and research output requisite for rank attainment in Colleges of Education match global standards and justify the highly anticipated institution of professorial cadre.
“We are ready for this and we urge the Federal Government to without further delay see to the implementation,” he said
Meanwhile, COEASU has awarded N3.5 million to six exceptional students, each from one of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Additionally, the Union conferred legacy awards on distinguished educators, including the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, Alhaji Abdulmalik Mahmood, former deputy governor of Bauchi State, and other notable recipients.
The awards were presented to the recipients at the COEASU 2024 International Teachers’ Day celebration and awards for the best students with the theme “Valuing Teachers’ Voices Towards Repositioning Teacher Education in Nigeria.”
President of COEASU, Dr Smart Olugbeko, said the award was initiated to promote academic excellence.
“Our Union has instituted a scholarship for the best student in the College of Education system in Nigeria. Through a transparent, objective, and externally coordinated process of examinations, we determined the best students in colleges of education within each zone, as well as the overall best among them.”
He also called on government agencies, private organisations, awardees, and individuals of goodwill towards educational development to contribute to these prizes for the students.
The list of awardees includes Nwachukwu Chioma Ruth, best student in the North-Central zone from Nasarawa State College of Education, Akwanga; Musa Abdullahi Musa, best student in the North-East zone from Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare, Bauchi; and Nusaiba Awwal Barau, best student in the North-West zone from Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso, Kano State.
Others are Nwoha Johnson Obinna, best student in the South-East zone from Benjamin Uwajomogu State College of Education, Ihite Uboma, Imo State; Ezeanofu Chisom Miracle, best student in the South-South zone from Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta; and Latona Mubarak, best student in the South-West zone and overall best student in Nigeria from Federal College of Education, Iwo, Osun State.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, presenting the awards to the students, reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to improving teachers’ welfare.
He announced that, in addition to the COEASU awards, the Federal Government will also grant scholarships to the students. He directed that their data be submitted to the Federal Scholarship Board while urging people to see teaching as a profession, not just an activity.
He commended the cooperation the Ministry has received from the two unions, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and COEASU.
Also speaking, the guest speaker, Prof. Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye, the former Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), urged the government to offer attractive remuneration packages to teachers and provide regular training, workshops, and conferences.
He emphasised the need to engage teachers, unions, and communities in decision-making processes while advocating for investment in modern classrooms, technology, and educational resources.
He recommended increased funding for education infrastructure and the development of a comprehensive teacher training programme, while also advocating for the launch of a nationwide teaching recruitment campaign.
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