The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has urged the Federal Government to reverse its decision to stop funding the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
NUT National President, Audu Amba, made this appeal during the public presentation of the Professional Standards for School Leadership in Abuja on Thursday.
Amba emphasized the detrimental impact of halting the funding, pointing out that the TRCN is essential for the development of the teaching profession in Nigeria.
He remarked, “The TRCN is the regulatory body that professionalizes everyone who teaches in primary, secondary schools, and universities.
We woke up overnight to hear that the federal government decided to stop funding the TRCN.
I have never seen anywhere in the world where a regulatory body supposed to regulate the teaching profession is not funded. Do we really mean business when doing this?”
Amba criticized the government’s prioritization of other sectors while neglecting the teaching profession, which he described as the backbone of all other professions. “Are we saying that teachers are inconsequential? We will not allow this as leaders of teachers.
We will agitate and ensure the government funds TRCN because we have come a long way as the leading country in Africa, and we can’t be seen retracting,” he stated.
Addressing the importance of professionalism, the Registrar/Chief Executive of TRCN, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, explained that the review of the Professional Standards for School Leadership aimed to reflect the evolving instructional roles of school leaders.
Ajiboye noted that the updated standards would provide a comprehensive framework to tackle contemporary challenges and opportunities within the education system.
He added, “While the existing professional standards emphasized the administrative responsibilities of school leaders, there was a recognized need to establish comprehensive standards that address their crucial role in instructional leadership.
This charges them with the responsibility to provide professional learning for teachers and is considered the most effective type of leadership practice for improving student learning outcomes.”
Ajiboye expressed hope that the new standards would be adopted and implemented with the seriousness they deserved, contributing significantly to enhancing educational quality and equity across the country. “The document sets the stage for a transformative impact on Nigeria’s educational landscape.
The standards outlined herein are intended to promote a culture of continuous improvement, professional growth, and accountability among school leaders,” he concluded.
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