Human Capacity Development And Teaching Effectiveness In College Of Education
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The process of passing on knowledge, attitudes, skills and ideas from one individual to the other is the major concern of every educational programme. At the centre of this is the activity of the teacher who is seen as a repository of the relevant skills. Accordingly, Nwafor (2007) notes that the teacher is the pivot of the educational process, since, without the teacher learning cannot take place.
In the opinion of Onwuka (2008), the teachers’ ability to bring about learning is dependent on a number of variables; one of which is the quality of professional training acquired. This brings to bear the relevant of human capacity development. As noted by Kahn (2005), human capacity development is the entire process involved in training and developing the requisite skills and knowledge of the workers in an organization.
As a profession, teaching requires specialized training in order to improve upon the effectiveness of the teacher. This is the essence of teacher education which has been given special emphasis by the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2004). The main aim of teacher education is to prepare teachers who can effectively direct and influence learning in a classroom situation (Mbachu in Egbule, Tabotndip and Abobo, 2011).
Human Capacity Development And Teaching Effectiveness In College Of Education
As a means of having the relevant teaching workforce, teacher education prgrammes are provided in College of Education, Faculties of Education, Institutes of Education, National Teachers’ Institute, Schools of Education in the Polytechnics, National Institute for Nigerian Languages and National Mathematical Centre, located across the country.
Based on the above, various techniques have been adopted as a means of developing the human resources in educational institutions. Some of these include induction, in-service training, seminar, conferences, workshops, as well as on-the-job training. The essence of such training programmes is to enhance staff effectiveness. This study was therefore carried out to examine the influence of human capacity development on teachers’ effectiveness in the College of Education, Afaha Nsit.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
One of the basic aims of every organization is to maximize the use of its resources and in the process bring about its effectiveness. Effectiveness is therefore measured as the ability of an organization to meet its stated objectives. One of the aims of the College of Education is to produce teachers for the primary school level of education. In order to achieve this purpose, the training of the teaching staff has been one of the primary focus of the College.
As noted by Inyang and Akpama (2002), the essence of human capacity development is to up-date the skills and talents of the human resource with a view to improving the productivity of the organization. Over the years, the College of Education has emphasized staff development through many training programmes. Data obtained from the Establishment Unit of the college indicated that between 2008 and 2013, a total of sixty-eight (68) academic staff have enrolled for further studies. This is made up of 11 for Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), 39 for Masters programme and 18 for Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D). The available data also indicated that the college has sponsored 109 lecturers to various conferences, seminars and workshops in and outside the country within the same period.
Despite the various efforts at human capacity development, there has been serious concern over the academic performance of the students in the colleges of education nationwide. A survey of the state of education in Nigeria by Nwadele (2009) indicated that the quality of products from the Nigerian schools are far below expectation. He noted that one of the reasons responsible for this tend is the low quality of teachers in the country. This confirmed a United Nations (2006) report that teachers in Nigerian teachers lack the requisite characteristics to foster learning.
Given the above scenario, this study was carried out to investigate the influence of human capacity development on teaching effectiveness in the College of Education, Afaha Nsit.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to examine the influence of staff capacity development on teaching effectiveness, the specific purposes included to
- a) Examine the influence of induction on teaching effectiveness in the College of Education, Afaha Nsit.
- b) Assess how in-service training influence teaching effectiveness in the College of Education, Afaha Nsit.
- c) Analyze the role of conferences on teaching effectiveness in the College of Education, Afaha Nsit.
1.4 Research Questions
- a) Does induction influence the effectiveness in teaching in the College of Education, Afaha Nsit?
- b) Does in-service training influence teaching effectiveness in the College of Education, Afaha Nsit?
- c) Does conference attendance influence teaching effectiveness in the College of Education, Afaha Nsit?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The findings of this study will be useful for analyzing the manpower development needs in various organizations. Institutions concerned with training teachers would find the study useful in designing curriculum that meets current manpower needs of the school system. The study will also be of use to government by helping to bring out the necessity for sponsoring the personnel development needs of the school. School authorities will also find the study useful. It will help them in determining the training needs of the staff and organize conferences, seminars and workshops to meet those needs.