Why we established Teachers' College of Education-- Fashola

LAGOS, Nigeria, July 2 -- BY IKENNA ASOMBA

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has reiterated the commitment of his administration to adequately fund teachers' education, even as he gave reasons why a Teachers' college of education was established in the state.


Addressing the 29th, 30th and 31st convocation of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Otto-Ijanikin, Lagos State, held last Thursday, the Visitor to the College, gave reasons for the pre-occupation of the state with education, including teacher education.


He said: “Education is arguably the most important factor for achieving the full developmental potential of any society. If that is the case, teacher education must certainly be an essential part of that process.”


Fashola who was represented by the Secretary to Lagos State Government, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule, affirmed that, “as teachers are the drivers of the society; curators of the past and the architects of tomorrow's building blocks, it is therefore understandable that our determination to invest in quality teacher education, and our insistence on nothing less than production of high calibre teachers in Lagos State, are fundamental aspects of our socio-economic agenda.”


Stressing the need for state governments across the country to adequately fund teachers' education, as stipulated by the National Policy on Education, he said: “As the National Policy on Education (2004) rightly observes that no educational system can rise above the circumstances of its teachers, we on our part has over the last few years, embarked on the massive renewal of educational infrastructure across the various levels of education in the state, and this college (AOCOED), has not been left out.”


Meanwhile, the Provost, AOCOED, Mr. Wasiu Bashorun thanked the Visitor for the 25 per cent increase in monthly subvention accrued to the college. This he said was approved late 2010, amidst the industrial challenges faced by the college.


Bashorun also acknowledged the huge sum of N180 million and N250 million approved by the Governor respectively for the construction of Phase One of the college's Administrative Block and for the procurement of equipment and general upgrade towards the college's preparation for its just concluded accreditation exercise.


The don, however, congratulated the graduands on the successful completion of their National Certificate Examination (NCE) training, even as he urged them to at all times be great ambassadors of their Alma mater.