The minister of education, Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai has attributed the falling standard of education to the lack of merit in the qualification of many head teachers whom she says lack skills in effective management before being appointed.
She stated this during the flag-up ceremony of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration, NIEPA.
The minister who was represented by the director, planning, policy and research, Ms Karimatu Lawal, said the quality of education children are able to receive is a reflection of the kind of teachers that impart knowledge into them stressing that there is a total decay of infrastructure and erosion of standards in the primary and secondary school system.
The minister stressed the need for in-service and capacity building for the teachers which she said most of whom she said have been denied the opportunity and as such, the enhancement of their capacity and service delivery cannot give the best of results.
In the same vein, the director-general and chief executive officer of NIEPA, Dr Peter Kolawole Ojedele, said the choice of training head teachers of public primary schools on effective school management is strategic.
He said the cadre forms the pivot for which education revolves but has been neglected for too long. ‘There is a general agreement that the core, purpose of the head teacher is to provide professional leadership and management for a school in order to improve pupils’ achievement.’
He further said ‘Six key areas which when taken together represent the role of head teachers include school improvement planning, improving teaching and learning, managing staff, finances and resources, promoting pupils’ welfare, strengthen community commitment and ensuring accountability’.