RELEVANCE OF NTI/NCE PROGRAM TO SELF DEVELOPMENT

BY OLUSHEUN EKUOYE

POLYTECHNIC LIBRARIANAUCHI POLYTECHNIC, AUCHI

LECTURE DELIVERED AT THE NTI MATRICULATION AND AWARD CEREMONY AT

THE IGARRA GIRLS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL, AKOKO-EDO STUDY CENTRE, IGARRA ON 4TH

APRIL 2013

INTRODUCTION “I am indebted to my father (and mother) for living, but to

my teacher for living well.”-- Alexander the Great“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his

influence stops”.--Henry Brooks AdamsThe teaching profession is honorable and the teacher is a

noble persons. The position of teachers in national development cannot be over emphasized. It is therefore necessary for teachers to be appropriately trained. National Teachers Institute (NTI) offers that opportunity. NTI is about self development to the position of National Certificate of Education (NCE). The objectives of the institute are:

•To train and upgrade all qualified serving Grade II teachers to NCE level•To improve the basic background of those who may wish to pursue their studies at higher levels•To help produce the required number of teachers for the successful implementation of the Universal Basic Education Programme.

TEACHERS, SCHOOLING AND EDUCATIONThere are teachers and there are schools but not all give the desired education. There is scarcity of teachers in Nigeria today just as there are too few schools. Look at the many private schools against the public schools. Schools remain schools because of the quality of teachers.

When we say teachers we mean good teachers and when we say good teachers we mean trained, qualified and certified teachers.

Are teachers with these qualities available considering the number of children in our society?

TABLE I Data on children enrollment.

s/n Basic Education Expected pupil enrollment Actual pupil enrollment Shortfall

1 3 – 5 years 22m 2.02 19.98

2 6 – 11 years primary 34.92M 24.42 m 10.5m

3 12 – 15 JSS 9.27m 3.27m 6m

4 Mass literacy 40m 0.05 39.5m

5 Nomadic education 3.5 0.45 3.1

Total 109. 69 m 30.21 m 78.73 m

From the above, there is no doubt that • the pupils are there and • the pupils are willing to go to school.

But we need teachers for the actual, the shortfall and even those not captured in the table.

The questions therefore are:•Are the teachers there and enough? •Are the available teachers skilled?•Are the teachers retraining themselves?•Are the teachers acquiring the necessary skills?•Any hope for our children?

TABLE II Teachers’ requirement challenges

s/n Basic Education Actual teachers Shortfall of teachers

1 3 -5 years 80,922 969,078

2 Primary 534, 794 338,177

3 JSS 92, 756 581

4 Adult Literacy 20,000 1,580,000

5 Nomadic Education

11,506 12,239

Total 759,957 2. 900,239

The implication of tables I and II above are: Ghost teachers may have been included in the actual teachers above We lack teachers We need teachers

Not just teachers, but trained teachers quality teachers certified teachers

We need great teachers.

Who is a great teacher?

William A. Ward said “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates.The great teacher inspires”.

We need teachers who can tell, explain, demonstrate and inspire our pupils. The great teachers are also retiring and going into politics. We need teachers more than we can imagine. We need to encourage many more to go to school and to get educated. We need to help others discover NTI.

NTI AND THE SELFNational Teachers’ Institute (NTI) was the baby of former president Olushegun Obasanjo as a military head of state. It has its headquarters in Kaduna but with study centres around the country.Study centers are places where students take their lectures and collect their study materials. The lecture period or contact periods are structured for weekends and school vacations.Admission is direct as there is no need for JAMB and the certificate is a federal government certificate.By implication, the programme is for everyone, you can work and school simultaneously.Course materials are given free on the payment of fees.

In 2000 the NTI was introduced to Akoko-Edo as TC II awarding college and in 2007 it was upgraded to NCE awarding college. It has since being growing in leaps and bound.Igarra and the immediate communities are lucky to have National Teachers Institute. Igarra is lucky to have private schools springing up. Edo state is lucky to have a governor that is passionate about public basic education. Why would as many as are available not avail themselves the opportunity to become qualified, certified and great teachers?

Igarra, near-by town and villages, NTI is now at your door step.

OUR ROLE AS MATRICULANTSWith your present training, your tomorrow is guaranteed and so is the future of children that will be entrusted in your care.But what about the very many young boys and girls, men and women in our immediate environment that are not aware of this?We owe them a duty to inform and persuade them of the relevance of this program for their self development. We need to tell them of the required and attainable qualification.

To answer the questions above on the appropriateness of teachers, the answers to the five questions are NO, NO, NO, NO and YES. This is my answer and YES to the last question because I have you. I am persuaded you will make a change and attract many more into the program for a better Igarra, Akoko Edo, Edo and Nigeria.Government must continue to play her parts. She must brace up with the new challenges of enrollment, curriculum design, funding, enlightenment, orientation among others.Government should also step up their enlightenment campaign programmes and involve as many stake holders like community leaders, parents, educationist among others.

Are jobs available as employers or employees?

EXPERIMENTSchools can be everywhere and anywhere – start oneEveryone is a teacher – recruit or employ somePut a sign post outside calling for pupils – pupils will begin to come.

Many schools do not and cannot stand the test of time. The reason is simple.

The absence of what you have started acquiring.

With your knowledge and skill, you will make a difference as a teacher and employer of teachers. You can be entrusted with children.

CONCLUSIONStudents, you deserve special commendation for this decision to start this program. Since you have dared to become teachers, you must consciously and unconsciously continue to learn. Go out and inspire! Be dynamic and be ICT compliant.I commend NTI Igarra for this initiative and for the award winners, I say congratulation. For the opportunity to talk with you, I say

THANK YOU FOR LISTENNING

ReferenceDr. Sam Egwu (1990) Roadmap for the Nigerian education sector.