Improving the Teaching Profession | Nigeria

Teaching is one of the oldest professions on the planet earth. It is often referred to as the Mother of all professions. Teaching should not be an all-comer job but for those who are trained and undergo serious tutelage of the arts and science of teaching.

One of the strategies to ensure that would-be teachers are trained is to undergo compulsory teaching practice exercises in various schools depending on the level of education and where the students will eventually work upon graduation.

While the students are in training at colleges or Universities, they are exposed to theoretical and little practical knowledge of what they will face in the profession.

It is also a tradition to assign supervisors to students in teaching practice whose job is to supervise and guide the students to become professional teachers.

At the school level, there is a cooperating teacher who works directly with the student and guides him or her every day on lesson preparation, delivery, and assessment procedures. It is also to expose the students to record-keeping and updating skills which are crucial aspects of the responsibilities of a teacher.

Communication, collaboration, and other soft skills are meant to be put into practice by the would-be teacher as he or she engages with the students and other stakeholders in the education space.

While on the exercise, other professionals in the school must be ready to support and encourage the students to develop a strong interest in the teaching profession. By that, the student will enlarge and sustain the passion for teaching.

It is also expected that all the resources the student needs for meaningful teaching experience should be provided by the school. The student too must cooperate with the would-be teacher to effect learning both in and outside the classroom.

A financial stipend should be provided for the student to take care of certain expenses that may be incurred while on the professional engagement. The would-be teacher must equally be open to learning.

It must be deliberate if truly we believe in the power of education to change our world for the better.