Why we make retraining of technical, vocational education teachers top priority – Prof. Adedoja, TCTI’s Pioneer DG
By Razaq Bamidele
Pioneer Director-General of the Teachers Continuous Training Institute (TCTI) Biase, Cross River State, Professor Taoheed Adedoja has stated reason the institution has put premium on retraining of Technical and Vocational Education Teachers in Nigeria as a top priority.
Adedoja’s explanation came on Saturday August, 20, 2022, at a workshop in Ogoja, Cross River State, where Principals of public and private secondary schools in Cross River State were in attendance.
The workshop which took place in all the three centres in the senatorial districts of the state: Biase, Ikom and Ogoja had 965 Principals and Vice principals of public and private secondary Schools in Cross Rivers State in attendance.
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The reason for the workshop, according to the pioneer DG, Prof Adedoja, is that, “skill based curriculum in schools has become the trend in the 21st century knowledge economy, as the high rate of employable graduates from our educational system has become a great burden and concern to stake holders in the economic and educational sectors, and therefore needs to be addressed urgently.’’
TCTI, Biase, which is the initiative of the State Governor, Prof. Ben. Ayade has taken the re-skilling of teachers of vocational and technical education a top priority in its retraining programmes, advising that, “other subject teachers must also undergo re-skilling for child cantered skill acquisition rather than place emphasis on curriculum based learning.”
It could be recalled that the Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Ivara Ejemot Esu, who declared the workshop open earlier, referred to TCTI Biase as one of the best legacies of the Cross River State Administration led by Senator (Prof) Ben. Ayade.
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During the opening ceremony of the workshop, the Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Godwin Amanke strongly hammered on the need for retraining courses for teachers, while the Chairman of the opening ceremony, who is the Chairman of Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Senator Dr. Steven Odey re-assured the Institute that Cross River State SUBEB and TCTI, Biase are natural partners in Teacher Development.
During the phase-3 of the workshop held on, Saturday August 20, 2022 in Ogoja, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Cross River State chapter, Comrade Gregory Olayi lauded the efforts of the pioneer Director General TCTI, Biase, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, and also stressed the need for continuous re-training of teachers but emphasized that, “the retraining expenses should be borne by Government and not by the teachers or Principals, in view of the poor remuneration for the teaching profession in the country, which ought to be addressed”
