Victoria Mgbanwa
The Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Tahi Mamman, has emphasized the need for teachers welfare to be improved for the education sector to thrive.
Mamman stated this during the launching of First African Professional Standard for School Leadership in Nigeria by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, (TRCN) held in Abuja.
According to the Minister, the core values of professional leadership must be practised.
“The standard of leadership include integrity and Ethical leadership, instructional leadership, inclusive leadership, collaborative leadership and innovative and visionary leadership which is designed to support and enhance the effectiveness of school leadership.”
He said teachers provides a clear pathway for professional growth and institutional success, and therefore provided with good environment in order for them to thrive in the Educational System.
Mamman said: “Now, as we know, at the heart of education is the teachers. They are the drivers, All we do for management at the policy and management levels is to provide them with the appropriate environment for them to thrive in the education system, Now, a lot of times, as here mentioned, we do a lot of seminars and conferences on what education is supposed to do.
“Leaving behind, a lot of times, the critical drivers of the system, who are the teachers. And that is why, when the federal government, when we reward priorities for our delivery, teachers is at the heart of it.
“The Professional Standards for School Leadership that we are unveiling today is a testament to our collective commitment to excellence.
“They serve as a comprehensive framework designed to support and enhance the effectiveness of school leadership. These standards are not merely guidelines, they are a vision of what exemplary leadership should be by providing a clear pathway for professional growth and institutional success.
“As we navigate the complexities of the 21st-century educational landscape, the demands on school leaders have never been greater. The global pandemic, technological advancements, and evolving societal expectations have all reshaped our educational environment. In this context, strong, visionary leadership is more crucial than ever.”
Speaking to Journalists, The Registrar/Chief Executive, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Prof. Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye, said the Professional Standard for School Leadership is a milestone achievement being recorded through the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.
Ajiboye said: “We want to thank the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the support given to TRCN so far, And also we want to thank our development partners, the British Council and FCDO Plain, for giving us the support to develop this professional standard for school leadership in Nigeria.
“If I’m not mistaken, perhaps Nigeria is going to be the first country in Africa to have a professional standard for school leadership. And I think that is a milestone achievement being recorded through the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.
“So we want to see this professional standard for school leadership making impact on our school leaders. Because over the years, we have now come to realize that apart from the learner factor, the teacher factor, the next most critical factor in the school system is the school leaders.”
He further commended all stakeholders in the Educational sector, and their partners that made the professional standard for school leadership a success.
Also, the president Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Titus Amba, urged the federal government to reconsider the teachers association council for the funding of its personal, overhead, and capital expenditure.
He said: “I also wish to use this medium, opportunity to retrain our appeal to the Federal Government to reconsider the Teachers Association Council, TICM, for the funding of its personal, overhead, and capital expenditures, Considering the all-important role placed education enterprise in the developmental agenda of the acquisition of its excellency, President Bola Ahmed, GCFR, and the critical role that TICM plays in professionalizing teaching, setting standards, and promoting quality education for the growth and development of our dear nation and our citizens”.
