The Principal, Dansol High School, Lagos, Mr. Oladapo Esan, has identified the scrapping of the teacher training colleges as one of the factors responsible for the country’s falling standard of education. He also flayed the scrapping of the ‘Advanced Level’ otherwise known as Higher School Certificate.
The HSC was a two-year stopgap education programme for school leavers seeking admission to higher institutions. Speaking to our correspondent on Wednesday in Lagos, Esan noted that there was the need to bring back TTCs, which served as the foundation for teachers in the 70s and 80s, in order to boost professionalism and improve the standard of education.
He said, “The teacher training colleges must be brought back to serve as a start-up platform for those who want to make a career in teaching. There is a lot of rot in the basic education sector. Though the Basic 1 to 9 system of education (6-3-3-4) was well thought out, its implementation was faulty.
“It is because there are problems with the basic education that we have problems at the tertiary level.
There is the need for adequate supervision of the basic education policy.”
Similar Posts:
Calling for the re-introduction of the HSC programme, he noted that at present, many undergraduates were immature and so could easily join bad groups.
He added, “The re-introduction of the HSC programme will lead to producing mature students who could handle any situation, both academic and social. These products will be more knowledgeable and well prepared for the tertiary education.
“In some advanced countries, students do degree foundation programmes before being admitted to the university system.”
The principal, who noted that many parents had abandoned their roles, said the family was the first primary agent of socialisation.
Esan also called on the education ministry to start an advocacy on enlightening parents on their roles.
He said, “Parental role towards educating children is lacking and the first layer of education is the home. Many parents are busy seeking to enhance their survival to the detriment of proper upbringing of their children.
“Such parents put all the responsibility on the school and teachers.”
Source:Punch
