Minister of State for Education, Rt Hon Goodluck Nanah Opiah has thrown his weight behind efforts of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, TRCN, to regulate the teaching profession.
In his remark on Monday while responding to briefs from the regulation body, the minister said that the ministry can’t stop at nothing in giving the TCRN, the necessary backing to give the profession the standard required for optimum performance.
Opiah while commending the TCRN for giants efforts taking so far to reshape the teaching profession, urged the regulatory body to ensure teaching job in Nigeria is line with international practice and global standard.
He said that the ministry has what it takes to support the TRCN in bringing innovations that will raise the height of teachers in the Nigeria.
“Try and build a structure that will encourage more teachers to develop interest in the profession. We are all products of teachers hence, efforts should be made to create room for those in education system to develop interest in teaching. The situation where registered teachers in Nigeria can teach in any parts of the world should be encouraged.
Speaking further, Opiah requested the regulatory body to put a motion on ground that will eradicate quacks and unqualified teachers are from the system. “Fish out incompetent ones and throw them out from the system while the good ones are encouraged to grow”
The minister revealed that he is aware of the desire of President Muhamadu Buhari to raise the bar of the teaching profession through better welfare programs for teachers by advocating for enhanced grade levels for employed graduates as well as making retirement age at 65 years.
Other welfare programs include rural positing and hard subject allowances meant to motivate interest in the teaching profession.
The minister who opined that a drop of quality in the teaching industry will affect the education sector, enjoined the regulatory body to not only attract the best brains to teachings but also go ahead to retain the experienced ones.
The TRCN boss, Prof Josiah Ajiboye came to intimate the minister at the Ministry of Education, about the operations of his agency as a regulatory body for teachers in Nigeria.