Don advocates adoption of B.Ed as minimum qualification for teaching

Mrs Benedicta Egbo, a Professor of Education, University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, has advocated for the adoption of Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) as the minimum qualification for teaching in Nigeria.

Egbo made the call in Abuja on Tuesday at the presentation and launching of her book tilted: Education and Sustainable Development in 21st Century Nigeria.

She said that there was need to review the National Policy on Education to meet the challenges of the 21st century and other societal needs.

"Perhaps, it is time to do away with the Nigerian Certificate for Education (NCE); in many developing countries, the minimum qualification to teach at all levels is a masters degree."

"In some of these countries, it is easier to be a doctor than to be a teacher; B.Ed should be the minimum qualification. In virtually all developed countries, B.Ed is the minimum qualification; we have to develop a 21st century teacher education curriculum for 21st century competences,’’ Egbo said.

She advocated for teachers to be empowered and given incentives to perform; noting that the society would fail once the quality of its education dropped.