Niger gov approves special school to promote teacher education

NIGER State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, says he has approved the establishment of a special Senior Secondary School in each of the three senatorial zones of the state for 9th grade pupils who want to make teaching a career.

Niger State consists of Niger East, Niger North and Niger South senatorial districts.

The governor disclosed this in Minna, the state capital, during an interactive session with the Committee on Revival of Teacher Education in Niger State, which took place at the  Government House, Minna.

The committee is headed by Hajiya Dije Bala.

Governor Sani Bello said the three special Senior Secondary Schools would be for graduates of junior secondary schools who have passion for teaching and are ready to pursue their ambition.

The special schools, to be fashioned after the Nigerian Military School (NMS), Zaria, will produce candidates for both college of education and faculty of education of any university of choice of the students.

“Teaching is a career you must be passionate about. The profession should not be seen as a last resort for jobless people. This special school will be built basically for those that have passion for teaching.

We catch them young and we motivate them, prepare them and make them proud professionals.

“Like the NMS where all students, except very few, are prepared for career in the military, as almost all the products of the school move to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), the students of this special school will be psychologically prepared for the teaching profession while they also prepare for their West African Examinations Council and National Examination Council examinations.

“To this end, competitive entrance examination will be conducted for JSS III pupils who have passion for teaching. The best two from each of the 274 wards will be admitted to the school. At the completion of their studies, they can go back and teach in their communities,” the governor stated.

Earlier, the chairperson of the committee, Hajiya Dije Bala, said the committee recommended the establishment of a Teachers Development Institute to conduct regular training and retraining of teachers as well as those in other professions but want to take teaching as a career.

The institute, she explained further, will provide a platform for qualified teachers to have refresher course that will update them in modern teaching methodology and practice.

She, however, lamented public perception of teaching profession and urged all levels of government to ensure an enhanced and we’ll packaged welfare for teachers.