STATUS OF TEACHER EDUCATION IN NIGERIA AND TEACHERS’ QUALITY: IMPLICATIONS FOR QUALITY SERVICE DELIVERY

Abstract

The goals of teacher education are, among others, to produce highly motivated, conscientious and efficient classroom teachers for all levels of our education system. Teacher education therefore is a professional education of teachers towards attainment of attitude, skills, knowledge and competencies considered desirable, so as to make them efficient and effective in their work in accordance to the needs of society any point in time. The transition of the world from one of separate units to globally integrated whole requires a new vision of the teachers’ role and pedagogical preparation towards overcoming challenges of the changing society. This paper discussed the status of teacher education and teachers’ quality and their implications to quality service delivery.  It examined the history of teacher education in Nigeria; federal government’s view on teacher education; challenges confronting quality service delivery in teacher education; highlighted the implications of re-engineering teacher education for quality service delivery. It was recommended, among others that the Ministry of Education should ensure that all programmes and operations of the teacher education are rich in digital and emerging technologies. This could be done by revamping the content of National policy on Education to that has to do with teacher education. This will help to equip Nigerian teachers with globally revered skills, knowledge and competencies needed to move the education industry forward.