The National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) is set to establish study centres across the three senatorial districts of Cross River State to facilitate its Accelerated Teachers Professionalisation Pathway (ATPP) programme, offering opportunities for teachers to obtain Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) qualifications.
The development was disclosed on Friday when a delegation from the NTI, led by the TRCN State Coordinator, Dr. Noah Ashibi, paid a courtesy visit to the Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Senator Professor Stephen Odey.
Welcoming the initiative, Senator Odey noted that the proposed study centres would provide teachers and other prospective beneficiaries across the state and neighbouring communities with easier access to professional training and qualifications.
“The establishment of these study centres is a welcome development, particularly because it will bring professional training opportunities closer to our teachers. We are ready to support initiatives that will strengthen teacher professionalisation and improve the quality of education in Cross River State,” Odey said.
The Commissioner urged the NTI to intensify advocacy and public awareness of the programme, stressing the need to ensure that teachers and other prospective beneficiaries were adequately informed about the opportunity to upgrade their professional qualifications.
He said the initiative would complement the State Government’s efforts to strengthen the education sector by providing teachers without professional teaching qualifications with opportunities to acquire the requisite training and credentials.
“We need to ensure that teachers who require professional qualifications are properly informed and encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. The programme will complement the State Government’s efforts to build a more qualified and professional teaching workforce,” the Commissioner said.
Senator Odey assured the delegation of the State Government’s support for the programme and pledged to promote it during his engagements with education stakeholders across the state.
He expressed optimism that the collaboration would contribute significantly to advancing teacher professionalisation and improving the quality of teaching and learning in Cross River State.
Speaking during the visit, the NTI State Coordinator, Mrs. Deborah Silas-Dikibo, expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for receiving the delegation and sought the State Government’s support and approval for the establishment of the proposed study centres.
She said the centres would help expand access to the NTI’s professionalisation programmes and enable more teachers in the state to acquire the qualifications required for effective teaching.
Silas-Dikibo said the proposed centres, when established, are expected to bring professional teacher training opportunities closer to educators across the three senatorial districts and support efforts to strengthen the quality and standards of teaching in the state.
By Patricia Ogbeche
