Educationist advocates revamping of colleges of education

An educationist, Dr Martin Igbineweka has called for the revival of Colleges of Education in the country to meet the manpower need for elementary education. Igbineweka made the call on Thursday in Benin in an interview.

The educationist, who lectures in the Department of Educational Evaluation and Counselling Psychology, University of Benin, berated the dearth of competent and trained teachers in elementary schools.

According to him, government must engage qualified hands in teaching to ensure good foundation for students and ensure their future.

“Enough of engaging contract teachers for teaching in primary and secondary schools.

“Whoever designed that and whatever the colouration is not good. Let government give them full employment.

“Let them be within the system. They should be motivated and the conditions for employment is that they should be to ready to go to rural areas to curb this rural-urban drift.

“We are in Benin talking, go to our villages, their children are no longer going to schools,” he said.

Igbineweka called on the federal and state governments to ensure adequate budgeting and funding for education as well as man power development in the country.

“I’m not a prophet of doom or a prophet but actions taken today will determine if Nigerian education is going to move forward or not.

“Those at the corridor of power must speak the truth to education in sense of budgeting, funding and manpower development; on and off the job trainings.

“Government at all levels should employ more teachers as teachers retire yearly but we hardly hear of teachers being recruited,” said the don.