IN ORDER to find a lasting solution to the problem of access into tertiary institutions in Nigeria, a lecturer of the department of Adult Education, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Mathew Oladepo Akintayo has stressed the need for Distance Education managers to understand the working environment of the institutions they work for.Making this disclosure at a seminar in Lagos, he noted that stakeholdersshould begin to look at the value chain analysis, which he described as a strategic management tool that will ensure that organisational set goals are accomplished.In his lecture entitled, 'Managing Distance Education Institutions through Value Chain Analysis: The Experience of National Teachers' Institute, Kaduna', Akintayo who was guest speaker at the ceremony said, 'the relevance and importance of Distance Education to manpower developments in developed and developing countries of the world can no longer be ignored.'According to him, it is possible to reduce the supply of education to desired students into the conventional tertiary institutions due to shortage of seat and space capacity, as well as time utilisation rate, it is very difficult to stop demands for educationHe was of the view that the inability of the conventional tertiary institutions, like universities, polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education, to meet the unsatisfied demand for admission by applicants has been a great concern for experts in Economics and education.Furthermore, he called for an applicability of the value chain analysis in the growth of NTI, saying that the institute should be able to establish an institutional long-term direction and set specific performance objectives in the light of all relevant internal and external circumstances.The South-West Zonal Coordinator of the Institute, Mrs. Grace Cole appealed to the state, local governments, as well as various employers of teachers, to work in close collaboration with the institute, towards ensuring that all unqualified teachers avail themselves the opportunity offered by NTI, to upgrade themselves.'A teacher cannot afford to be static in this dynamic and ever changing technological world. It is thus important that teachers seize all opportunities and avenues for retraining and updating their skills, 'she said.Listing some of the achievements made by the institute since the Director General came on board in 2009 she said a five -points agenda has been introduced whichto aid the development of the institute.Cole said, 'Among the many achievements of our Director General, has been the integration of Information Communications and Technology in all operations of the institute, especially the migration from manual to on-line application and registration of students in all our programmes.'The Coordinator added that the revenue generation, and the advocacy for quality in the institute have been enhanced, 'that is why our activities and programmes are being monitored by seasoned teacher educators. 'In his response, Sharehu thanked the South -West zone of the institute for honouring him, saying that the honour will encourage him to do more to improve the institute and teacher education in the country.He noted that with what has been achieved with the adoption of the five 'agenda,efforts would be intensified to sustain them.'I wish to note that the progress so far made, pose fresh challenges to us. We have to sustain and even surpass them. This will require very hard work, even harder than we have so far done. Apart from the welcome challenge, we have to contend with misunderstanding among critical stakeholders of what we are doing, our achievements and noble plans for the institute,' he added.
Click here to read full news..
