Kaduna -The National Teachers Institute (NTI) Kaduna, on Monday called for support in the training of teachers to address mass failure in final year examinations by senior secondary school students.
The Director General of the institute, Dr Aminu Sharehu made the appeal at the opening of circle 3 stage 1, of Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) National Training Programme.
Sharehu said the capacity building programme was specifically designed to strengthen the teachings of mathematics and science subjects at the basic level through the adoption of new methodologies.
He expressed concern that stakeholders had been condemning the quality of science and mathematics teachers in the country without doing much to address the issues.
According to him, it is only through conscious investment in improving the capacity of teachers at the basic level that the consistent failure of students in WAEC and NECO will be addressed.
“We have been condemning the quality of mathematics and science teachers in the country and yet, we are not ready to come to the rescue.
“I am appealing to government at all levels as well as all relevant stakeholders to support NTI’s effort in training and retraining of science, mathematics teachers in the country.
“That is the only way we will be able to address the scourge of mass failure in science and mathematics subjects and ensure development in science and technology in the country.
“We started the SMASE training five years ago, and we believe it will go a long way in improving the quality of teachers.
“We need stakeholders support and encouragement to sustain the training, because there is no way we will succeed without support,’’ Sharehu said.
Also, NTI consultant on SMASE, Prof. Emmanuel Odunbunmi, said the in-service development training involved science and mathematics teachers at federal, states and local governments.
“This is why all levels of governments must support NTI, so that the desired development in science and mathematics will be realized,” he said.
Earlier, the SMASE National Coordinator, Mr Joseph Aguiyi, commended NTI for anchoring and sustaining the programme.
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Aguiyi appealed to state governments and other relevant stakeholders to support NTI in sustaining the training.
“Improving teachers’ capacity is very critical in the development of this country and the quality of human resources depends on how well the population is being prepared educationally, “he said. (NAN)
