Director general of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Dr David Shofoyeke has identified poor teachers’ professional development as the reason for the poor quality of education in the north west region of Nigeria.
Shofoyeke stated this while declaring open a 7-day training workshop in Kano organised by the institute for 60 head teachers, education officers and principals in the region on effective school management in the 21st century.
Dr Shofoyeke who was represented by Dr Grace Tolulope said the teachers’ development programme is a panacea to the poor quality education, hence the resolve of the institute to commence the training.
He said based on the Nigeria Measuring of Learning Achievement (2017), the state of basic education indicates that 70 per cent of children in Nigeria cannot read with meaning or solve simple Mathematical problems.
“Only 49 per cent and 55 per cent of children in school achieve basic proficiency in literacy and numeracy respectively,” he said.
He also attributed the high rate of school dropout, low transition and completion to poor quality education which is largely caused by inadequate professional teaching development, stressing that there are limited provisions for coaching/mentoring, poor human and capital management, low awareness in managing schools within the changing contexts of culture, climate, safety and security.
He advocated maintaining a friendly school environment, among others, as panacea to the challenge.
“The totality effect is inability to achieve the basic education goals which not only have implications for the foundation of quality post-basic education but moral values and societal improvement.
“Leadership of the school system is key in turning the quality of education around and providing an enabling environment for unhindered access, retention and completion with meaningful learning outcomes including inculcating entrepreneurship skills and other relevant skills for useful living,” he stated.
