A professor of education foundation at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Patrick Eke Eya, has charged teachers to lead students to “learn and think creatively, productivity, and stochastically.”
Professor Eya gave the charge Thursday at his valedictory lecture at NOUN headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.
According to him, a 21st century teacher “must focus, think, re-think, learn, unlearn, relearn, question, collaborate, make lessons real, create capable dialogue with the students allow for proper and active participation by learners the essence of discernment, be friendly and above all learner-centred.”
He noted that “making the teaching profession the envy of all other professions by teachers receiving the highest pay will attract the best brains.”
He urged the government to make teaching qualifications such as PGDE compulsory and a prerequisite to be appointed as a teacher at all levels including universities, and making teachers’ training free at all levels.
Professor Eya noted that the “instructional activities of diagnosing learners’ needs, planning lessons, presenting information, asking questions and evaluating learners’ progress are intended to facilitate the learners’ achievement of specific educational objectives has the component of managerial activities.”
“These managerial activities include rewarding, developing teacher-learner rapport and establishing productive group norms which are meant to create and maintain conditions in which instruction can take place effectively and efficiently; management is a critical prerequisite to effective instruction,” he said.