TEACHERS AND EDUCATION TRANSFORMATION IN NIGERIA:

Issues, Challenges and the Way forward

Abstract

Education Transformation begins with teachers for a simple reason that, they are vested with important numerous responsibilities which are primarily related to promoting effective growth and development of students, facilitating the achievement of academic goals and up-grading the overall system of education. When the educators are recruited, there are certain aspects that need to be taken into consideration. These include, educational qualifications, experience, competencies and personality traits. Furthermore, for education to be transformed, teachers are to possess the abilities to work under stress and deal with various problems and challenges in an appropriate manner. With these traits, they will be able to perform their duties satisfactorily and enhance effectively education transformation agenda. Within the period of time, it is necessary to generate awareness in terms of usage of technologies and other modern and innovative methods that would facilitate in the successful implementation of education transformation tasks and activities. This paper examines the significant roles of teachers and stakeholders in ensuring education transformation amidst numerous challenges facing the country today. The paper concludes that, the roles and responsibilities of teachers are considered vital in transforming educational system as well as promoting academic learning among pupils, enabling them to inculcate the traits of morality, ethics, diligence, resourcefulness and conscientiousness, promoting community welfare and leading to effective growth and development of individuals, so they can render a significant contribution in promoting better livelihoods for themselves. It also recommends that, implementation of education transformation plans as prioritized by World Bank, UNESCO as well as other models analyzed by cheng will significantly help to transform educational systems in Nigeria. Government therefore has a lot to do here because implementation of these frameworks require huge amount of money from beginning to the end.