By Felix Khanoba
The Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) says it has put modalities in place to successfully host the 4th edition of its annual online conference for professional teachers.
Acting Registrar of TRCN, Stella-Maria Nwokeocha, who made this known during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, said over 3,000 professional teachers have so far registered for the conference, scheduled for October 16-17, 2024.
“This conference initiated in 2021 remains one of the largest gathering platforms of professional teachers in Nigeria where emerging issues in teaching and learning in the 21st century are unraveled and resolved.
” As at today, over 3, 000 persons have registered, and the number is expected to grow further. The Conference will be streamed live on TRCN social media handles and those of UNESCO Nigeria which has greatly provided the technical support.
” TRCN will also set up viewing centers across the FCT, Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Lagos, Oyo and other states where teachers may be willing to assemble and participate. Registration and participation are free for all, and that by participating a teacher will earn 25 PD credits as part of the requirements for the renewal of his or her teaching licence,” she said.
According to the acting TRCN boss, the conference is for both teachers at primary, secondary and tertiary institutions from across the country.
While saying that there is a global concern about teacher quality and the future of the teaching profession, Nwokeocha, noted that the first-ever United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) 2023 Global Report on Teachers, had confirmed the threats that teacher shortages and poor professional skills pose to the education system.
She noted the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, had set up a High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession, which released its report and recommendations this year, 2024.
The report, according to her, confirmed “a dramatic shortage of teachers worldwide” and the existence of millions of teachers who lack the support, skills, and continuing training they need to meet the demands of rapidly changing education systems.”
She noted that the forthcoming conference was organised in line with the recommendations to highlight issues affecting the profession and to further call for urgent action to address some of these serious challenges in the teaching profession that pertain to pre-service teacher education and continuous professional development.
She added that the conference was a special response to the emerging global continental and national issues of interest to the teaching profession and education in Nigeria.
“Therefore, the theme of the Conference, “Advancing Teacher Professionalisation in Nigeria Towards Education 2030: Challenges, Strategies and Prospects” is directly linked to international concerns and will deal with sub-themes such as the (1) Strategies for quality teaching and lifelong learning; (2) National and international best practices in continuous professional upskilling of teachers especially with respect to knowledge, skills, attitudes, conduct and orientation of teachers; (3) Implementation of Professional Development [PD] credits in advancing teachers along the career stages: (4) Institutionalisation of the Community of Practice [COP] within the teaching profession in Nigeria; and (5) Fostering of collaborative learning; among others.
“National and international experts across the specialisations in the teaching profession have been invited to make presentations,” she stated.
The acting registrar of TRCN added that Nigeria, as the “giant of Africa,” has a huge share of the teacher shortage, saying there was a need for continuous updating of the professional skills and competencies of teachers along the lines identified by these evolving global concerns and recommendations.
She further said that this important goal of repositioning teachers in Nigeria to meet international standards calls for collaboration with the media, sister agencies, international development partners, and other critical stakeholders.
“TRCN has attained this global mark and is proud to do everything it takes to sustain the standards, part of which is through maintaining a competent teaching force that will be recognised anywhere in the world,” she said.
