The Dean of Faculty of Education of Ahmadu Bello University ABU Zaria, Professor Haladu Bayero has called for the overhauling of Nigerian teacher education curriculum and the model of the implementation to be in alignment with what it takes to deploy technology in the 21st century teaching and learning environment.
He stated this while presenting a lead paper titled “Preparing In-Service and Preservice Teachers for the New Normal of Quality Education Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic”, at the maiden International Conference organised by Faculty of Education, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa state.
He explained that the overhauling could be done by both Nigerian Universities Commission NUC, National Commission for Colleges of Education and other agencies responsible for teacher education by reviewing teacher education curriculum to global practices.
Professor Haladu Bayero said specialists in digital technology integration be deployed to teacher education institutions as technical officers.
According to him, the technical officers would be responsible for hands-on training for students-teachers on how to create learning content using digital technology.
He pointed out that, these officers should be those that have qualification in instructional technology.
He said possession of of digital workshops should be one of the criterion for accrediting any teachers education program in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The Dean said the workshop will serve as center for acquiring practical skills of integrating technology in the 21st century classroom.
He said refresher courses should be mounted for in-service teachers to upgrade their knowledge and competencies to deploy digital technology in teaching and learning.
In his address, a lecturer in the department of Education, Bayero University Kano, Professor Muhammad Yakasai, said even before the COVID 19 pandemic, education in Nigeria was plagued by a deep wound which severely affected its quality and and impeded the standard desired.
He pointed out that there are numerous conferences and researches on impact of COVID-19 on education, and similar numerous conferences on the delivery education within and outside Nigeria have been and are still being conducted.
He therefore recommended good governance of education, adequate funding of the sector, provision of adequate infrastructure, teaching facilities, development of competent and well motivated teaching force, managing overcrowded classrooms, repositioning the learners value orientations, checking influence of media technology on learning, curbing high rate of examination malpractice, as well as addressing security challenges to first of all address the present predicament of education on its delivery.
Earlier in his welcome address, Dr Abdullahi Yakubu, the Dean, Faculty of Education, FUD, expressed the hope that the participants will contribute and share their wealth of experience in boosting and making positive impact on teaching and learning in higher education.
According to him, the North, must refine and redefine its commitment to education, despite the constraints of COVID-19, drug abuse, poverty, insecurity and high cost of living.
Radio Nigeria reports that the conference, holding between 13th to 15th october has the theme: “Delivering Quality Education Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond: Issues, Challenges and Solutions”.
END/USMAN Mohammed Zaria