TEACHER EDUCATION REFORMS: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA EDUCATION PROGRAMME

Abstract

ABSTRACT Although teacher education, both pre and in-service programs are offered in Nigeria by different teacher education institutions (as provided in the National Policy on Education), and varying degree of success have been recorded, various problems still confront the program with far reaching consequences in Nigeria’s educational system. This papers emphasis on the need for teacher education, the ideal teacher education, the teacher education and the national development, analyses the historical contexts of the teacher education reforms and development in Nigeria with a special attention on the roles of the Christian Missions, the colonial administration and that of Nigerian government after independence. It examines key recommendations of two (2) commissions (Phelps Stokes and Ashby) and their implications to the reforms and development of teacher education in Nigeria both during colonial era and after independence. The paper further discusses the influence of these and other reforms in shaping teacher education in Nigeria, the challenges still facing it, and finally suggested some recommendations and holistic approach to improve teacher education in Nigeria.

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