NCCE charges South-East teachers training colleges on quality, dual mandate implementation

The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has called upon the government and stakeholders in the South-East to prioritize the training of high-quality teachers. During a meeting with provosts of Colleges of Education in the region, NCCE Executive Secretary Dr Angela Ajala emphasized the importance of improving teacher quality, skills development, digital learning, and the effective implementation of the dual mandate of Colleges of Education.

Ajala highlighted that while some areas in the country boast over 30 Colleges of Education, the South-East has only slightly more than ten.

Ajala stressed that increased budget allocation to education would yield limited results without corresponding investment in teacher preparation. She warned that building numerous smart classrooms would be ineffective if teachers lacked the necessary skills to utilize them effectively. She urged Colleges of Education to adapt their teacher training programs to meet the demands of modern classrooms, including the incorporation of artificial intelligence, mechatronics, digital technology, and practical skills.

Ajala emphasized the significance of teacher training institutions equipping students with practical, entrepreneurial, and digital competencies, stating that "a teacher cannot give a child a skill she does not have herself."

The NCCE boss also advocated for greater use of student loans to prevent financial barriers from preventing young Nigerians from accessing higher education. Earlier, Provost Dr Stella Ekwueme of the Enugu State College of Education (Technical) expressed hope that the meeting would result in practical outcomes, address areas requiring intervention, and foster ongoing communication between the NCCE and Colleges of Education in the South-East.