A WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA PROF. KAY C. N ONYECHI ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A 3-DAY NATIONAL WORKSHOP OF THE INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA 3^RD APRIL, 2019

The Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. B. C. Ozumba

Deputy Vice Chancellors

Other Principal Officers of the University

Keynote Speaker- Prof. J. O. Ajiboye, Registrar/Chief Executive TRCN

Deans of Faculties

Directors of Institutes/Centres

Distinguished Awardees

Professors, Heads of Departments and other Academics

Distinguished invited guests

Our Revered Workshop participants

Respected Ladies and Gentlemen

Great Lions and Lionesses

It is indeed a previledge and delight for me to present this address to this distinguished audience on the auspicious occasion of the opening ceremony of a 3-day National workshop of the Institute of Education, UNN. I am particularly thrilled to witness this event and to share the joy of making it my first official function since assumption of office as the Director of the Institute of Education. I humbly wish to use this opportunity to thank God who granted you all journey mercies from your various destinations to this great citadel of learning. I hereby welcome you to this National Workshop, award presentation to our distinguished lovers of Education and the unveiling of the 2018Institute of Education Journal.

Today’s event is very significant to the Institute of Education in many respects. Firstly it is a fulfillment of the statutory vision/mandate of the Institute towards the promotion of Research and Extension services in Teacher education/Teacher professionalism. Secondly, it conforms with the institutional vision of the founding fathers of this great institution to promote world class education with a view to “restoring the dignity of man”. Thirdly it is a clear testimony to the fact that the institute of education is steadily rising to the challenges confronting teacher training and teaching profession as a whole in our fast changing society.

The theme of this workshop “Innovative Instructional Delivery for Sustainable Teaching and Learning” coincidentally centres on current issues and challenges besetting teacher effectiveness in schools and could therefore not have been more appropriate than this auspicious moment in our history. This is largely so because it is predicated on the need to improve or enhance teacher quality which constitutes the major concerns of the various stake holders in the education sector namely Federal, State and Local Governments and other lovers of Education respectively. These concerns stem from persistent poor performance of students in both internal and external examinations which evidently could be attributed to instructional failure in schools (Basic and Post-Basic levels) owing largely to inadequate utilization of innovative  instructional approaches, materials, media and assessment practices for sustainable teaching and learning.

The consequences of the above trend are not only negatively obvious but are also very worrisome and deserve urgent and timely professional intervention. This is with a view to assisting teachers become increasingly inclined or disposed to using innovative instructional delivery approaches capable of meeting diverse instructional needs of students in different classrooms settings. All these concerns greatly justify the need for this workshop

This workshop, based on the above premise is therefore geared among other things towards assisting participants to;

1.      Gain/have clear understanding of learners diverse needs for alternative but effective innovative instructional delivery approaches/resources/material/media in the classroom

2.      Gain practical experiences in the use of available and  improvised innovative instructional delivery approaches/resources/materials/media in the classroom

3.      Design, construct and utilize Teacher-made tests and other innovative assessment practices for sustainable teaching, measurement and management of learning outcomes in the classroom.

     The sub-themes of the workshop also revolve around quality assurance issues and problems on teacher instructional delivery in the classroom. Expectedly the sub-themes which the participants will be exposed to by distinguished and erudite resource persons centre on key issues which are very vital to the aims of this workshop. These are concepts of Innovation and Innovativeness in Instructional Delivery, Application of innovative instructional delivery in Mathematics, Science and Technology classrooms, Application of innovative instructional delivery in arts and humanities classrooms, application of instructional resources/materials/media for sustainable teaching and learning and lastly Innovative Assessment practices for sustainable teaching and learning.

   

    May I use this opportunity to remind you that gone are the days when ineffective teaching and unprofessional teachers were tolerated in the educational system, Teaching today demands high level of professionalism which can only be sustained through continuous in-service training and retraining programmes which workshop of this nature can offer. The need for this emphasis is borne out of the widely acknowledged opinion that teachers constitute a very vital factor to the development of our nation “since no society can rise above the quality of its teachers”. Thus Nigerian society needs teachers who are not only well trained and committed but also very innovative in the discharge of their onerous duties. I am very optimistic that this workshop will not fail in this expectation.

      CHALLENGES

   To achieve its mandate of promoting Research and Extension services in Teacher Education and Teacher Professionalism, the Institute of Education has been facing numerous challenges which are both worrisome and distracting in promoting Teacher Education, Teacher professionalism and Extension services, etc. These challenges are in the form of the following needs:

1.  Project vehicle: At the moment the office of the Director has no functional project vehicle/car which is needed for effective movement, supervision and organization of professional activities of the Institute which are aimed at promoting research extension services in Teacher education and Teacher professionalism, the present project vehicle being used by the Director was procured ten years ago and is no longer functional due to series of travels and accidents. We therefore call on relevant stakeholders especially philanthropists to come to our aid

2.      A 14-Sitter coaster/traveler bus: The Institute at the moment has no utility vehicle to convey staff and workshop materials to workshop venues outside the University.  As a matter of fact, the Institute has been getting invitations for one extension service or the other across various states of Nigeria and will need a bus to convey staff and materials to these destinations. The vehicle will also be needed for supervision of Teaching practice,  linkage programmes and other research activities of the Institute

3.      45 KVA sound proof lister generator: The Institute is also in dare need of the above caliber generator to provide alternative power supply in case of power failure. The generator will also power the ICT and Micro Teaching laboratory as well as assist in the production of examination/research materials and other related publication activities.

4.      Instructional materials: Facilities such as seats, tables, shelves, drawers, cupboards, printers and its accessories, laptops and its accessories, etc are also needed for effective functioning of the Institute.

5.      Functional Micro teaching/ICT Lab requirements: Items such as laptops, printers, scanners, moderms, CCTV, interactive board, extension wires, USB cables, flash drives, photocopiers, External hard disc drives are also needed urgently by the Institute for its operations.

6.      Carports: We need carports to protect Staff and visitors vehicles from sun and other diverse effects of weather.

We shall be highly grateful if individuals and cooperate bodies/organizations can come to our aid in any or some of the above areas. I assure you that you will reap the benefits of partnering/supporting us in this onerous task of nation building through Education.

Once more I on behalf of the entire Institute heartily appreciate our supportive and innovative Vice Chancellor and Chairman of this occasion, our unique Deputy Vice-Chancellors, keynote speaker, awardees, distinguished guests and participants for being present at the opening ceremony of this workshop. To the Participants I join the Vice Chancellor to urge you to take the Workshop seriously in order to benefit immensely from it. May the Almighty God grant you peaceful stay and fruitful deliberations in Jesus name. Once again I welcome everyone here present and God’s blessings.

Thank you for listening patiently

Prof Kay. C. N Onyechi

Director Institute of Education

Brief History of Institute of Education - University of Nigeria, Nsukka

The Institute of Education was inaugurated as an independent academic unit in the University of Nigeria in 1963. “To sponsor and aid teacher training colleges, to conduct research on current Classroom issues problems and to be responsible for short courses of the refresher type in teaching Education.

Objectives of the Institute of Education

• To maintain adequate and effective contact between the University of Nigeria, the Ministry of Education and Teacher Training Institutions in the interest of continual improvement and further professionalization of teacher education in Nigeria.
• To assist in curriculum planning and development of education Programmes of the Institute.
• To serve as consultative body to the Ministry of Education or the State School Board on any matter affecting Teacher Education in Nigeria.
• To organize In-service Training and extramural courses and programmes for teachers (short courses, Conferences, Seminars, Training and Workshops).
• To develop professional libraries for teachers.
• To encourage and provide facilities for research among participating colleges, to promote teacher–exchange programmes and advanced studies both locally and abroad.
• To coordinate activities and research projects in training centres.
• To hold conferences, conduct workshops, seminars, and organize study programmes.
• To encourage and promote dissemination of professional information.
• To act as an advisory body on educational matters.
• To maintain close professional contact with other institutes of education in Nigeria and elsewhere on matters of mutual educational interest.
• To publish a professional journal on research and developments in education.
• To sponsor and aid teacher training colleges, to conduct research on current problems and to be responsible for short courses of the refresher type in professional topics”.