By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
The federal government has launched the public presentation of the reviewed professional standards for school leadership in Nigeria for basic and secondary education in its bid to enhance the quality and effectiveness of school leadership across the country and to establish clear and consistent standards for school leaders.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister for Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, while reaffirming government’s commitment to supporting school leaders in their crucial roles, stated that leadership development is an ongoing process, and pledged to provide the necessary resources, training, and support to help our leaders meet and exceed these standards.
According to him, “The Professional Standards for School Leadership that we are unveiling today is a testament to our collective commitment to excellence. They serve as a comprehensive framework designed to support and enhance the effectiveness of school leadership. These standards are not merely guidelines, they are a vision of what exemplary leadership should be by providing a clear pathway for professional growth and institutional success.
“As we navigate the complexities of the 21st-century educational landscape, the demands on school leaders have never been greater. The global pandemic, technological advancements, and evolving societal expectations have all reshaped our educational environment. In this context, strong, visionary leadership is more crucial than ever”.
Meanwhile, Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council Of Nigeria (TRCN), Professor Josiah Ajiboye, noted that the presentation of the newly reviewed Professional Standards for School Leadership in Nigeria marked a significant milestone in the collective journey towards elevating educational standards and ensuring that every school leader in the country was equipped with the guidance and support necessary to foster excellence in schools.
According to Professor Ajiboye, the review of the Professional Standards for School Leadership was undertaken to reflect the evolving instructional roles of school leaders and to provide a comprehensive guiding framework that addresses the contemporary challenges and opportunities within the education system.
“As we present this document today, we are setting the stage for a transformative impact on the educational landscape of Nigeria. The standards outlined herein are intended to promote a culture of continuous improvement, professional growth, and accountability among school leaders. They serve as a roadmap for leadership excellence, emphasizing the critical role of school teachers in shaping the future of our children and, by extension, the future of our nation.
“It is our hope that these standards will be embraced and implemented with the seriousness and dedication they deserve. We are confident that they will contribute significantly to the enhancement of educational quality and equity across the country. To our esteemed school leaders, this is a testament to your pivotal role in the educational ecosystem. We urge you to engage with these standards, to internalize them, and to let them guide your daily practices and long-term strategies”, he added.
On his part, the Director Programmes, British Council, Chikodi Onyemerela, while giving his remarks, said the reviewed Professional Standards for School Leadership is second to classroom teaching in influencing student’s achievements and would also improve students learning per month, per year, compared to week leadership.
“The document is critical. There are a lot of research evidence that allude to the fact that school leadership is second to teaching in ensuring any outcome, so this document is supposed to guide the practice of the school leadership in Nigeria particularly the component of it that speaks to instructional leadership.
“I mean the term school leadership is a broad one but instructional leadership lends itself to teaching and learning, supporting teaching and learning in a school system so this document is supposed to provide a guideline on how school leadership is practiced in Nigeria for effectiveness and also career attendance”, Onyemerela said.
While giving his goodwill message, the National President, Nigerian Union of Teachers, Comrade Titus Amba, said he considers the project worthy and timely considering the change in the education landscape for the expanding roles of teachers and school leaders and the need to adopt the new trend and challenges in education as well as to meet the demands of the 21st century.
“The importance of this public presentation of the reviewed professional standards for school leaders is underscored by the critical roles of leaders in developing and improving teaching and learning as an important tool that prescribe the rules and responsibilities of school leaders. Professional standard will support the effective management of the school system. I have no doubt about that”, he said.
He also called on the federal government to reconsider the Teachers Registration Council Of Nigeria (TRCN) for the funding of its personnel, overhead and capital expenditures.
“You heard the Minister saying that attention has been given to other aspects, then lip service is given to teachers who are the real implementators of all these things that we are doing.
“Once you give birth to a child and his brain is open, the next person he meets after his parents is the teacher and you are there saying that the teacher is inconsequential and I wonder what kind of a country we are, so we will not allow it go.
“As leaders of teachers of this country, we will continue to agitate and make sure that government funds Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria. We have gone a long way, we are leading Africa, Professor Ajiboye is leading the regulatory body in the whole Africa so we can’t be seen retracting back” he added.
