I will consolidate on gains, bridge gaps of my predecessors ― New NTI boss

The newly appointed Director-General of the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, Prof. Musa Garba Maitafsir, has said that the focus of his administration will be the consolidation of the gains of the previous leadership of the institute and bridge the gaps for maximum results.

He made the disclosure while delivering his maiden speech at an interactive meeting with staff of the institute, shortly after taking over as the Director-General and Chief Executive of NTI, at the Institute’s headquarters in Kaduna, on Thursday.

Maitafsir,  a one-time Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, Sokoto State between 2012 and 2015,  was appointed the new NTI DG/CE effective from September 2, 2021, for the first term of five years.

At the event, while reviewing the institute’s individual departments, he assured the staff that he will create an enabling environment for them to work and contribute their quota in promoting the image of the institute and efficient service delivery to its students.

“I am aware of the numerous efforts put in place by the immediate past leadership to improve the conduct of examinations and he is hereby well appreciated.

“However, delay in the release of students’ results, cases of missing grades, including Teaching Practice and projects, as well as the omission of students from the printout are some of the challenges, that will be tackled, ‘’ he said.

He said that despite the improvement in the institute’s academic activities, the students’ coursebooks must be reviewed in line with 2021 National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) minimum standards and current National Universities’ Commission (NUC)’s minimum standard for Bachelors degree programmes and Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) programmes.

Prof Maitafsir, who is a professor of Educational Psychology, promised to revive academic publications, educational conferences and Teachers’ Summit, organised by the institute.

He, therefore, urged the staff to devise possible measures in order to checkmate all forms of excesses at the institute’s Study Centres nationwide.

“Coursebooks should be made available to students as at when due. We shall condone no more delay in the payment of course facilitators’ allowances, so as to further improve the image of the institute,’’ he added.

Expressing his concern on the quality of teachers in the country, Prof. Maitafsir said the institute must now prioritise quality in both academic and administrative activities.

Delivering his remarks, the Acting Registrar and Secretary to NTI Council, Mal. Ibrahim Hamidu, said the institute’s management and staff are willing and will cooperate with him to see to the realisation of his good plans for the institute.

Also speaking, the institute’s Director of Examinations, Dr Bashir Mamman, who held the position of Acting DG/CE within the period of the transition from the expiration of the former Director-General and Chief Executive, Prof. Garba Dahuwa Azare’s tenure, expressed willingness to work with the new DG/CE.

Prof Maitafsir, who took over from Prof. Garba Dahuwa Azare, was NTI Teaching Practice Moderator and Subject Monitor in-charge of Zamfara in the year 2000 and facilitated for the Institute under the MDGs in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

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