NOUN begins postgraduate programme in education

VICE Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Vincent Tenebe, has charged academic staff of universities to embark on professional self-development to ensure productivity.Speaking at a workshop organised by the Regional Training and Research Institute for Open and Distance Learning (RETRIDAL), to sensitise NOUN's academic and non-academic staff on the commencement of the Post Graduate Diploma in Distance Education (PGDDE) programme at the institution recently, Tenebe also observed that most academic staff of universities, including professors, do not have a background in Education as a discipline.He reminded participants of a clause in the country's education policy that states that, every teacher should have a qualification in Education, at least a National Certificate in Education (NCE). His words: 'You will recall that it is now a policy of the Federal Government that any person wishing to teach in educational institutions in Nigeria must be a professional and registered teacher.'Recognition must be given to both the RETRIDAL and the School of Education, for appreciating the need for the sensitisation of academic and non-teaching staff of NOUN without education background. I personally see it as an opportunity for self-improvement and value-adding. May I state that I look forward to becoming one of the students to enroll for the PGDDE in ODL programme, either now or in the very near future. I urge fellow professors and my other very senior academic colleagues (without background in Education) to join the bandwagon and not be left behind in the race for self-improvement and opportunity for capacity building.'To underline the import of the PGDDE programme, Tenebe revealed that the university would bankroll the first batch of staff members who enroll for the programme. But he quickly added that the university would deduct the amount spent to sponsor any staff who fails to complete the programme from his or her salary.The workshop featured presentation of papers by experts in Open and Distance Learning (ODL).Prof. Ganiyu A Badmus, Dean, School of Education, presented papers on Detailed Programme Proposal for Postgraduate Diploma in Open and Distance Education (PGDDE) and Open and Distance Education: Pedagogy/Andragogy and Applications; while Dr Fidel Okopi, who stood in for Prof. Babatunde Ipaye, spoke on PGDDE for Staff without Education Background: Why
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