TRCN COMMENCES ACCREDITATION OF TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMME.

T RCN from 2009 commenced visit to teacher training institutions in Nigeria which have started running the Professional Diploma in Education (PDE). The PDE is a teacher education programme/curriculum newly introduced by TRCN to expand teacher education opportunities for the teeming number of unqualified teachers in Nigeria so that when it resumes prosecution of unqualified teachers, all serious minded unqualified teachers would have got the opportunity to escape the wrath.

THE PDE, WHAT IS IT?

The PDE is a qualitative programme developed by TRCN in collaboration with the Institute of Education, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and the Deans/Directors of Faculties and Institutes of Education in Nigerian universities. The curriculum is national benchmarks which has taken cognizance of the latest requirements for professional production of teachers anywhere in the world. Part of its hallmark is that it allows candidates to specialize on the very sector or level of the education system where they work or teach.

Another unique feature of the PDE is that it has flexible delivery strategies which include full time and part time, online, etc without losing the expected quality. Though it is for both degree and Higher National Diploma holders alike, it is particularly a relief for Higher National Diploma holders who are at times discriminated against in terms of admission into the PGDE programmes because of the unnecessary dichotomy existing between universities and polytechnics in Nigeria.

Entry requirement into the programme is a degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) and special dispensation is given to holders of National Diploma (ND) with a minimum of credit . As in the case of the Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) degree holders who complete the PDE are admissible to read Masters Degree in Education. Again, like the PGDE, the PDE is for one academic session. The PDE and PGDE are alternatives and a candidate is expected to read either the PDE or PGDE.

WHICH INSTITUTIONS RUN PDE?

O nly universities, colleges of education and polytechnics with schools of education in Nigeria are qualified to run the PDE. However, in 2009, the Committee of Provosts of Colleges of Islamic and Arabic Studies (CAILS) in Nigeria signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with TRCN to upgrade the their Diploma in Education programmes to meet the standards for the award of the PDE so that their Education graduates which TRCN has denied registration over the years would become registrable.

The MOU made it necessary for CAILS to increase the duration of their Education programmes from two to three years. Several CAILS have fully implemented the MOU which is why in this report, the CAILS Ilorin owned by the Kwara State Government was among the institutions already visited and accredited by TRCN.

INSTITUTIONS ARE IMPLEMENTING THE PDE IN STYLE

V arious institutions that commenced the PDE have brought style and creativity into the running of the programme. This is a somewhat competitive spirit which TRCN Registrar/Chief Executive described as healthy during his inspection visits. He said it shows that the institutions and students are indeed enthusiastic and appreciate the quality and relevance of the PDE programme.

For instance, the Niger State College of Education, Minna, started its PDE with elaborate Matriculation ceremony which involved over 200 PDE candidates, most of whom were lecturers of the institution who did not have teaching qualification. Others were lecturers drawn from the neighbouring Federal University of Technology Minna and graduate teachers from the Niger State school system. The Matriculation ceremony had TRCN Registrar/Chief Executive as the Guest Speaker and he also administered the matriculation oath on the candidates. The entire event boosted the candidates' morale and promoted the relevance and dignity of the programme.

A nother example is the Federal College of Education (FCE) Zaria that created a blossoming Directorate of PDE and appointed a Director to take charge of the affairs of the Directorate. The FCE Zaria accorded the PDE its full status as a post graduate programme and dedicated the best of its lecturers and resources to the programme.

Among the Colleges of Arabic and Islamic Studies which recently restructured its Education programmes to meet the TRCN/PDE requirements, the Kwara State College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies (CAILS), Ilorin topped the list of such institutions that met the standards for PDE. The institution's Diploma Programmes in Education have transited fully from two to three year duration with the appointment of high ranking lecturers in the various Education disciplines.

HOW FCE ZARIA FARED …

The TRCN team to FCE Zaria was led by the Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof. Addison Mark Wokocha. The Provost of the College, Dr. M.I. Chiroma, received TRCN first in his office and later in the Council Chambers of the College where the TRCN team and principal officers of the College exchanged ideas on the modalities and expectations of the accreditation exercise.

The Provost expressed joy at the visit of TRCN and reiterated that TRCN must closely monitor and supervise the programmes of teacher training institutions to ensure that their products meet national and international professional standards before registering and licensing them to practice as teachers. He stated that TRCN must extend the pressure to lecturers in universities who claim that they are lecturers and not teachers. He said that several times, he had educated such lecturers in the universities that lecturing is an aspect of teaching which means that the job they are doing is teaching and that they must be professionally qualified and registered by TRCN.

The Provost further stated that FCE Zaria was the very first College of Education in Nigeria and started as part of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He stated that this unique history makes the institution proud and that the quality of its products is the best anywhere in Nigeria.

TRCN Registrar/Chief Executive who was also the former National Chairman of Committee of Provosts in Nigeria agreed totally with the Provost regarding the premier status of the College and its high academic standards. He assured that TRCN would pursue the professionalization of university lecturers to its logical conclusion. After the meetings, TRCN undertook inspection tour of the institution and addressed the PDE candidates.

At the end of the accreditation exercise, TRCN was pleased with what it saw and designated FCE Zaria as the PDE Centre of Excellence. The institution would receive a Merit Award Certificate and attract generous support from TRCN for achieving this status. The implication of the Award is that other teacher institutions could visit the College to learn some best practices.

HOW THE KWARA STATE COLLEGE OF ARABIC AND ISLAMIC LEGAL STUDIES (CAILS) ILORIN FARED …

The College's Provost, Dr. Imam, in company of his entire academic board welcome TRCN Registrar/Chief Executive. Prof. Addison Mark Wokocha and his team. The accreditation exercise kicked off with a meeting of TRCN with the College Academic Board. During the meeting, the Provost expressed the desire of the College to remain first among equals in academic excellence. He stated that the desire motivated the College to be the first to redesign its programme, increase duration of the programme from two to three years, beef up its academic staff and acquire more resources in order to meet the very high standards set by TRCN for Colleges of Arabic and Islamic Studies.

TRCN Registrar/Chief Executive praised the College for being among the first CAILS to seek recognition by TRCN. He described the Provost as a charismatic leader whose inspiration and zeal to deliver qualitative services were very visible. He assured the College of close working relationship in the bid to raise qualitative teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies for Nigerian schools.

The accreditation exercise involved detailed examination of the records, facilities, infrastructure and interview with staff and candidates of the PDE programme. The Provost personally conducted TRCN round the College and he was assisted by the PDE Director, Dr. (Mrs.) Bilqis Ajoke Amoloye. At the end of the exercise, the College was found fit to run the PDE programme and areas requiring improvement were communicated to the Provost.

TRCN Registrar/Chief Executive during the visit also made a broadcast to the citizens of Kwara State from the State Broadcasting Corporation regarding the importance of PDE and the mandates of TRCN. Next on the line for Accreditation are the Federal Colleges of Education (Technical) Guzau Zamfara State and Asaba Delta State, Enugu State College of Education, and others.