Varsity Don Calls for the Reintroduction of Teacher Training Colleges, Blames Falling Standards of Education on Lack of Qualified Teachers.
From Our Correspondent.
Professor Mustapha Ibrahim Lemu, a retired university lecturer and education consultant, has urged the Federal Government to reintroduce Teacher Training Colleges in the country. He believes that the abolition of these colleges marks the beginning of the decline in educational standards.
Professor Lemu emphasized that teacher education is crucial for enhancing the quality of education, stating that without proper attention to teacher training, the downward trend in educational standards will continue. “Teacher education in the country requires a complete overhaul. We need deliberate action to change the negative narratives surrounding the adequacy and quality of teachers,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of giving serious attention to the professional development of teachers. His remarks were made in Minna on Monday while delivering a keynote address at the farewell colloquium for Professor Mohammed Yakubu Auna, the outgoing Provost of the Niger State College of Education, who served for eight years of progressive leadership.
In his keynote address titled “Educational Pyramid and the Needs of Society: The Missing Link,” Professor Lemu expressed concern over the neglect of basic education, describing it as the foundation of the educational system.
He noted that basic education has increasingly been handed over to private individuals, a trend that is now affecting tertiary education as well, with a proliferation of private universities across the country.
While he acknowledged the need for private participation in education, he insisted that public institutions must not be allowed to suffer.
The Chairman of the colloquium discourse, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, stressed the urgency for government action at all levels to prevent a complete collapse of the educational sector.
He described the current state of education as unacceptable, stating, “We must get it right because education is the foundation of every development.”
The speaker recognized Professor Auna’s contributions to academic development and infrastructural transformation at the state-owned college of education, noting that the institution has fulfilled its role in training teachers.
He remarked that the national policy on education places great emphasis on teaching and the values imparted to children and young adults—an objective the college has consistently pursued.
The event also featured the unveiling of a 294-page book, a collection of essays honoring Professor Mohammed Auna for his significant contributions to the development of the institution during his eight years of service.
