Oyo commissioner tasks teachers on improved educational status.

TEACHERS in Oyo state have been enjoined to take full advantage of the golden opportunity precipitated in the NTI programmes which allowed them to improve their educational status as well as acquiring the desired requirements which also, qualified them as professional teachers.

The state commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, who was a guest of honour gave the charge while addressing the matriculants at the maiden NCE, B.ED and PGDE matriculation ceremony of the National Teacher’s Institute (NTI), Kaduna, Oyo state office held yesterday at the Federal College of Agriculture, Moore Plantation, Apata, Ibadan.

Prof. Olowofela noted that the NTI, since its inception in 1976 has made itself reputable in its effort to make the teaching profession meet the required standard for the purpose of best practices, especially in the areas of training and re-training of teachers in Nigeria, adding that ensuring effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery would help improve the standard of education in the state.

He, then expressed the state government’s appreciation to NTI as an important stakeholder cum collaborator in the sphere of Teacher Education in Nigeria; Oyo state inclusive with a view to repositioning the sector.

“The task of bringing back education to its enviable position as in the days past cannot be left in the hands of government alone; hence the place of collaborators like the NTI can not be jettisoned.

” The Abiola Ajimobi led administration realizing the fact that it could not single – handedly restore education to its past glory created room for stakeholders to partner with her. It was on this premise that the government welcomed, as a development well deserved, when in December, 2014, the NTI informed the state government of its desire to commence the B.A Ed/B.Sc.Ed. programme in Oyo state.

“In order to serve as a positive reinforcement, the government disseminated the information to teachers in the state and also encouraged them to take full advantage of the opportunity to broaden their scope of knowledge. It is gratifying to note that in reality, the lofty idea of the institute came into fruition; hence this matriculation ceremony which we are witnessing today”, the commissioner explained.

The ex-council chief, Olowofela, however called on other individuals who may also be craving for improvement in their present educational status to apply for admission so as to remain relevant on the job as the federal government is at the verge of eliminating quarks in the field of teaching, averring that “this is evident in the fight being waged against non-qualified teachers through the Teacher’s Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN)”.