FG commences retraining of technical teachers

By Usman Shuaibu

The Federal Government has reinvigorated its retraining programme for Federal Government Technical College Teachers across the country.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a 4-day Retooling programme at the Federal College of Education Technical, Akoka, Lagos the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Arch Sonny Echono said that the retraining programme was necessary to empower teachers to effectively deliver the curricula
According to him, the Federal Government way deliberately focuses on Technical, Vocational Education and Training in order to address the challenge relating to skills development as a means of poverty eradication.
This he said will be achieved through the various steps being taken by Government including the recently flagged-off National Vocational Qualification Framework, production of Science equipment/ technical instructional materials, upgrading of physical infrastructure and empowering of out of school youths.
The Director of Technology and Science Education, Mrs. Tina Eyaru earlier in her address acknowledged the problem of inadequate training of teachers, especially technical teachers which has prevailed for a very long time.
Speaking further, Mrs. Eyaru said that Assessment conducted on 21 FSTC revealed that majority of the serving teachers have not participated in capacity building programme since they were employed 10 – 15 years ago, adding that many of them are deficient in practical skill and unable to use modern machine.
The Provost of Federal College of Education Technical, Akoka. Dr. Sojibomi Olusanya assured that the College was blessed with seasoned lecturer and equipment to deliver effective retraining.
Principal of Queens College, Mrs. Biola Are called for more regular and longer training sessions for the teachers, noting that equipment worth millions of naira are lying waste in many schools because of lack of capacity to operate then.