...as NUJ, FCE partner to reposition Institution
By Abidemi Omoyajowo
The Provost of the Federal College of Education (FCE) Ilawe Ekiti, Dr Smart Olugbeko has traced the declining interest in the teaching profession to poor remuneration and the low value placed on teachers in the society.
Olugbeko who noted this during an interface with the leadership of Ekiti State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) stated that many admission seekers deliberately avoid education-related careers particularly at the primary and secondary school levels because of the perception that the profession offers little financial gains.
While explaining that the exemption of Colleges of Education from the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was to encourage more enrolment in Colleges of Education, the newly appointed Provost said beyond just the exemption, meaningful reforms must begin with making teaching a more attractive and rewarding career.
Dr. Olugbeko noted that if teachers at both primary and secondary school levels earn similar pay with their colleagues at the tertiary institutions, there would be more than enough people aspiring to be teachers.
"Education remains the least subscribed course in Nigeria because the returns on investment are not encouraging. Students prefer courses such as Medicine, Law, Nursing and other highly rated professional programmes. There is virtually no private university in Nigeria that focuses solely on education because there are very little financial returns from such investment".
"Government policies are usually based on facts and data. If the current trend continues, a time will come when Nigeria will not have enough qualified teachers because many of those currently teaching are reluctant teachers who entered the profession simply because they had no other employment opportunities. Teaching has gradually been relegated in the society".
"The fundamental issue is how society rewards teachers. It is all about compensation. People do not study Medicine simply because they like the profession; they do so because they expect good returns on their investment. The same principle applies to teaching. If government begins to pay teachers attractive salaries, more people will willingly study education and embrace teaching as a career", Olugbeko said.
While noting that the proposed collaboration between the College and the NUJ was timely and important, the Provost said the partnership would help create more awareness about the new College and attract more students to it.
Earlier, the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi who was represented by the Council's Secretary, Comrade O'Seun Ogunsakin, had stressed the need for stronger collaboration between the NUJ and the College to advocate policies that would restore the dignity of the teaching profession and improve the nation's education system.
The chairman said the courtesy call was part of the union's commitment to building strategic partnerships with institutions capable of advancing education and societal development.
He expressed the readiness of the Union to support the College in actualising its vision of becoming a leading centre for teacher education in Nigeria.
Babatuyi also proposed collaboration in capacity building through the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), the training arm of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
"The last area of partnership is policy advocacy. Today, the nation does not appear to place enough value on education. Society celebrates success regardless of whether it comes through legitimate means or otherwise. There is a need for us to work together to achieve your vision while advocating policies that will strengthen teacher education".
Other members of the Management of the Federal College of Education, Ilawe Ekiti present during the courtesy visit includes the Registrar, Dr. Khadijah Garba; the Public Relations Officer, Temilola Mercy Ajide and the Head of Administrative Department, Mrs Omolola Olabisi.
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