FG Reiterates commitment towards repositioning education as the cornerstone of national development

The Federal Government has commenced the final process towards the reviewed National Teacher Education Policy (NTEP), reiterating its commitment to reposition education as a cornerstone of national development.

Speaking at the National Stakeholders’ Workshop organized by the Federal Ministry of Education and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the validation of the reviewed National Teacher Education Policy (NTEP), the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad said: “This workshop marks an important milestone in the journey towards the realization of our collective vision for a robust, inclusive, and quality Education system in Nigeria. The Ministerial Committee, in collaboration with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) under the European Union sponsored project has worked tirelessly to review and refine the National Teacher Education Policy to ensure that it responds effectively to the evolving educational needs of our country.”

She noted that: “It is essential to recognize that the validation of this reviewed policy is not only a technical endeavor but also a key deliverable in the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR which is commitment to reposition Education as a cornerstone of national development.

“It also reflects one of the six (6) Ministry’s priority areas which is Education Quality Assurance that focuses on Teacher Production, Development and Professionalism. It is hoped that this will reposition the Country to move from a resource based economy to a knowledge based economy. This administration understands that the quality of education in any nation is intrinsically tied to the calibre of its teachers. Thus, ensuring that Nigerian Teachers are equipped with the right tools, knowledge, and support is a priority for the Ministry of Education.”

On the need for the review, the Minister said: “Nigeria’s Teacher Education sub-sector plays a vital role in shaping the country’s future, making a comprehensive policy framework essential. Recognizing this need, the Ministry developed the National Teacher Education Policy (NTEP) in 2014, in collaboration with key stakeholders. This policy was designed to enhance the quality of Teacher Education and has been in circulation since its inception. However, the 2022 monitoring by the Ministry revealed implementation gaps, necessitating a review to ensure the Policy remains effective in addressing the evolving needs of Nigerian Teachers.”

The Minister added that: “As you commence the validation process, I urge you to be guided by a shared sense of purpose: to ensure that Nigerian Teachers are not only well-prepared for the challenges of the classroom but also empowered to inspire the next generation of leaders, innovators, and citizens. The National Teacher Education Policy serves as a blueprint for achieving this, and your inputs, feedback, and insights today will be critical in finalizing a policy that is both ambitious and achievable.

“I thank you all for your commitment to this noble cause, and I look forward to the fruitful discussions and outcomes that will emerge from this workshop. I hereby declare the workshop open.”

On his part, the UNESCO Head of Office in Nigeria, Abdourahamane Diallo, said his organisation would continue to contribute towards the development of Nigeria’s education sector.

Diallo revealed that the Ministerial Technical Committee worked closely with UNESCO to review the NTEP using the UNESCO teacher policy development guidelines to ensure that we produce a document that meets the needs of the teaching profession and the teachers in Nigeria as well as international standards.

He said: “The draft reviewed policy to be validated in this two-day workshop, therefore, largely reflects the yearnings of teachers for a profession that is attractive and highly esteemed. The policy aims to support the achievement of the teacher target SDG 4c: “By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teachers training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing states’’.

He added that: “The revised policy will ensure the production of teachers and educators that are “empowered, adequately recruited, well-trained, professionally qualified, motivated and supported within well-resourced, efficient and effectively governed systems.”