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Teachers get Code of Conduct
By Gbenga Faturoti,
Special
correspondent,
Osogbo
In a bid to improve
the quality of education in the country, the federal government has put in
place a code of conduct to govern the activities of teachers.
According to the
code, teachers that are found wanting in the discharge of their jobs shall be
sanctioned by the Teachers’ Tribunal.
Besides, any
teacher that failed to register with the Teachers’ Registration Council
of Nigeria (TRCN), by 2006 shall be derobed as a member of the teaching
profession.
The Registrar and
Chief Executive of TRCN, Alhaji Ajim Musa Ciwar, dropped the hints in Osogbo
during a courtesy visit to the Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Ciwar who led his
team to the state on the sensitisation of members for the planned registration
said the decision of the government to actualise the Teachers Registration
Council was borne out of the need to address the much talked about falling
standard through recruitment and retention of qualified teachers.
He explained that
since the time the council has taken off, it had embarked on sensitisation of
stakeholders about the importance of professionalisation of teaching.
“We have also
put in place strategy for improving quality of education delivery. One of such
strategies is the introduction of a professional Diploma in Education (PDE) in
collaboration with the Institutes of Education in our universities.
“This
programme in addition to the Post Graduate Diploma, will assist untrained
teachers in the system to acquire the required qualification to meet the
deadline given by the National Council on Education at its 50th session at
Yenagoa, Bayelsa State in October 2003.”
Ciwar maintained
that if by 2006, one is not enrolled; it means he/she is not interested in the
profession adding that by this time, the provision of the law against
unqualified teachers will be enforced.
While appealing to
all employers of teachers to support the training and re-training of teachers
in the system and also employ only qualified teachers in subsequent recruitment
exercises, the chief executive of TRCN stressed that the council will not
hesitate to deal with anybody found wanting.
He said
“Section 17(2) of the TRCN Act states that from the commencement of this
Act any person not being a registered member of the profession practices as
registered member of the profession or in expectation of reward, or takes or
uses any name, title, addition or description implying that he is in practice
as a registered member of the profession, he or she shall be guilty of an
offence punishable with a fine of N5,000 or two years imprisonment or
both”, he said. Responding, the state governor, expressed the readiness
of his administration to support the council in its aim at improving the
quality of education and teaching profession in the country.
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