ENHANCING TEACHER EDUCATION QUALITY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Edna N. Ogwu & Pius Okechukwu Chukwu
Department of Arts Education, University of Nigeria Nsukka
Abstract
Teacher education is regarded as bedrock for any national development. Both pre-service and in-service teacher education programmes are offered in Nigeria by different teacher education institutions. This paper discusses the need to improve on the quality of teacher education for sustainable development in Nigeria. It examines the state of teacher education quality in Nigeria; the role of teacher education for sustainable development in Nigeria; issues militating against quality education and ways of enhancing teacher education quality in Nigeria. Findings from the review indicate that the state of quality education in Nigeria is already hitting the rock which is reflected in the output of students. This is attributed to poor remuneration, poor condition of service, poor policy implementation, poor teacher preparation, poor quality assurance, non-professionalization of teaching, insufficient innovative knowledge, amongst others. Enhancing quality of teacher education could be made through the use of innovative technology for teaching, increasing professional competence standard, increasing incentives, funding, motivation, retraining, monitoring and supervision. In conclusion, the realization of sustainable development can only be viable through restructuring and conceptualization of teacher education in Nigeria.
Keywords: Teacher, Teacher education, Quality, Sustainable development.