FG to set minimum standards for English, Mathematics teachers

By 9Maryam Abeeb

The Executive Secretary of the National Senior Secondary Education Commission, Dr Iyela Ajayi, said the commission is working towards collaborating with other agencies such as the National Commission for Colleges of Education in a bid to set minimum standards for teachers of English Language and Mathematics in secondary schools across the country.
A statement released in Abuja by the Head, Public Relations, NSSEC, Fatima Bokpare, noted that Iyela, who spoke during a courtesy call on the Executive Secretary of NCCE, Professor Paulinus Okwelle, in his Abuja office, said that the officials of the commission had gone round the six geo-political zones to stimulate collaboration with stakeholders and critique the Zero Draft Minimum Standard.
“When that is approved and implemented, it will set a benchmark for all aspects of Senior Secondary education in the country,’ the Executive Secretary added.
He further disclosed that his commission, which is saddled with the responsibility of repositioning Senior Secondary Education in the country, “has commenced proper planning on Senior Secondary School Database and production of the Zero Draft National Policies.“ These, he said, are to strengthen Senior Secondary Education and reposition the sector to meet international and societal needs.
He also revealed that the NSSEC has commenced, “the reskilling and retooling of teachers of English language and Mathematics to meet the NSSEC’s minimum standards in these subjects.”
He later called on the National Commission for Colleges of Education to support his Commission in the area of capacity development of teachers.
Responding, Prof. Okwelle, revealed that the background of the Executive Secretary of the NSSEC as a former Provost of a College of Education has strategically positioned him to succeed in his assignment. He emphasised the established ties between the two Commissions, noting that while the NSSEC produces the students, NCCE trains and grooms the students to become teachers.
Okwelle further called on the National Senior Secondary Education Commission to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to review and restructure the Senior Secondary Education Curriculum, adding that a well-restructured curriculum will set the pace in repositioning Senior Secondary Education in the country.