The impact
explains the emergence of the national teachers institute in April 1990. Beside
the past impendent, Nigeria has witnessed meteoric explosion in knowledge in
all fields of study, hence the constant review of school curriculum at all
level of Nigeria education system. This culminated in the desire for an improve
teacher education industry. Similarly, the declaration of Universal Primary
Education (UPE) in 1998 by the federal government of Nigeria triggered of a
number of education exigencies that include among others the upsurge of pupils
enrolment in the Nigeria primary school without the corresponding increase in
the number of teachers to maintain the primary schools, this intensified the
demand for qualified teachers which led to the establishment of the National
Teachers Institute Kaduna among other reasons.
The institute was charged with
the responsibility of training the teachers through distance learning. Nworgu
(1996) asserted that the recommendation submitted by the tribunal of enquiry in
1992 contained in its white paper on the increscent leakage of examination set
by the West African Examination Council (WAEC). The tribunal argued the federal
ministry of education to relieve the West African Examination Council of the
responsibility of conducting the national teachers Grade II examination in the
centrally set papers. This tribunal opined would increase the efficiency of
WAEC and curb examination leakages. A legal backing for the establishment of
NTI came a year later in 1973, which formally summarized the functions and the
objectives of the institutes as follows (NTI, 1996).
i.
To
upgrade under qualified and unqualified teachers
ii.
To
provide refresher and other upgrading courses for teachers
iii.
To
organize workshops, seminars and conference that could assist in the
improvement of the teachers nation wide.
iv.
To
conduct national teachers grade II examination
v.
To
carryout research in conjunction with other bodies on any matter relevant to educational
development in the country
vi.
Formulate
polices and initiate programmes at all levels of education designed to improve
by way of research the quality and content of education in Nigeria.
vii.
Assess
the training programmes offered by the institutions controlled by or associated
with the institute with view to ascertaining the professional competence of
these institutions
viii.
Offer
such assistance either or in co-operation in the education of teachers and perform
such other functions as are necessary or expedient for the full discharge of
all functions as the council under this decree.
Furthermore,
in section 7 paragraph 2, the enabling decree no. 7 states:
“Without
prejudice to the generality of the provisions of …..” the council shall
exercise the following powers:
i.
To
establish and maintain such extra-moral departments and other teaching units
within the institution as the council may from time to time decide.
ii.
To
provide such course of instruction either alone or in association with such
universities and other institutions whether in Nigeria or not as may be
determined and to conduct examination and aware such diploma and certificate to
the council.
iii.
To
institution and award fellowship, model prizes and other titles.
iv.
To
mount exhibitions and displays designed to faster appreciation of trends in the
scope of the requirement of education.
v.
To
create, provide, equip and maintain such educational facilities as the
institution may require.
vi.
To
create lectureships and other academic post and offices and to make appointment
there to encourage and make provision of research in the institution (NTI, 1999).
In
another document, the national policy on education (NPE), the NTI is given the
overall responsibilities of co-ordinating the work of the institutions of education
and state ministries of education as regards training of teachers on the job
(NPE, 1991). The objective of national
teachers institute as highlighted above is based on the functions assigned by
the federal government of Nigeria. So far the institute has been advancing in
the fulfillment of these mandates in the implementation of the NCE/DLS
programme in Ebonyi state.