Teaching as a Pseudo Profession in Nigeria
INTRODUCTION
Teaching as a Pseudo Profession in Nigeria refers to the perception that teaching, despite being a recognized profession, lacks certain characteristics and conditions that are typically associated with a fully professional occupation. This concept implies that the teaching profession in Nigeria falls short in terms of status, remuneration, working conditions, autonomy, and public respect compared to other professions. The notion of teaching as a pseudo profession is often discussed in relation to the Nigerian education system, which faces numerous challenges and disparities.
Teaching is goal oriented and made up of a number of activities designed with the intention that somebody should be learning what is being taught. From this statement, obviously, teaching is probable to be accompanied by learning and must be directed at a specific audience.
This may be view of Crawford & De Cecco in Seweje (2017) when they related theories of teaching to that of theories of learning in that the acts (i.e. teaching) of the teacher are the cause while the accompanied learning outcomes of the students constitute the effect. Learning can therefore be defined as a series of goal-oriented activities engaged in by the teacher that involve interaction between the teacher and the learners with a view to impact knowledge.
Teaching is a vital profession that plays a crucial role in shaping the minds of future generations. However, in Nigeria, the teaching profession has been plagued by various challenges, including poor remuneration, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of respect for the profession. As a result, many individuals have opted to pursue teaching as a pseudo profession, which has negative consequences for the education sector and the society at large.
Teaching as a Pseudo Profession in Nigeria
Definition of a Pseudo Profession
A pseudo profession is a field of work that is not considered a true profession due to a lack of formal training, regulation, and recognition. Pseudo professions are often seen as unethical and lacking in credibility, and they can undermine the reputation of legitimate professions.
Challenges of Teaching as a Pseudo Profession in Nigeria
Teaching as a pseudo profession in Nigeria is characterized by several challenges, including:
- Poor Remuneration: Teachers in Nigeria are among the lowest paid civil servants, with some states owing them several months of salaries. This poor remuneration has led to a brain drain in the education sector, as qualified teachers seek better-paying jobs in other sectors.
- Inadequate Infrastructure: Many schools in Nigeria lack basic infrastructure, such as classrooms, furniture, and technology. This makes it difficult for teachers to deliver quality education, and it also discourages students from attending school.
- Lack of Respect for the Profession: Teaching is not considered a prestigious profession in Nigeria, and many people view it as a last resort for those who cannot pursue other careers. This lack of respect for the profession has led to a shortage of qualified teachers, as many talented individuals opt for other fields that are perceived as more lucrative and prestigious.
- Limited Career Advancement Opportunities: Teachers in Nigeria have limited opportunities for career advancement, as there are few opportunities for professional development and promotion. This lack of opportunities has led to a high turnover rate among teachers, which further exacerbates the challenges facing the education sector.
Consequences of Teaching as a Pseudo Profession in Nigeria
The consequences of teaching as a pseudo profession in Nigeria are far-reaching and have a negative impact on the education sector and society as a whole. Some of the consequences include:
- Poor Quality Education: The lack of qualified teachers, inadequate infrastructure, and poor remuneration have led to a decline in the quality of education in Nigeria. This has resulted in a high dropout rate, low academic performance, and a lack of skilled workers in various fields.
- Brain Drain: The poor state of the education sector in Nigeria has led to a brain drain, as qualified teachers seek better opportunities in other countries. This has resulted in a shortage of qualified teachers, which has further exacerbated the challenges facing the education sector.
- Lack of Social Mobility: The poor quality of education in Nigeria has also led to a lack of social mobility, as individuals from low-income backgrounds have limited access to quality education. This has perpetuated poverty and inequality in Nigerian society.
Ways And Means to Make Teaching in Nigeria A More Respectable Profession as the Legal and Medical Profession
Society Must Come Together to Help Teachers: The society should help in appreciating the daunting task of teachers in molding the society. “The society should help in supporting teachers because they are the ones that build the society. What is needed to improve on teaching is recognizing it as a profession.
Training and Re-training: “Teaching needs training and re-training to make it better, there is need to create the right atmosphere for the profession to thrive because there will always be demand for teachers,’’.
Teaching Profession Should be regarded as the Mother of all Professions: The Federal Government should accord the same recognition given to other professional fields to teaching.
Teaching as the mother of all professions should not be driven to the back seat, the profession needed to be given the respect it deserves.
“Teaching is a noble profession because it is the mother of all professions. Teaching should be ranked alongside other professional fields such as Law, Engineering and Medicine among others.
“In terms of remuneration, teachers should also earn as much as their counterparts in other professions. Teachers are professionals in their own terms making the champions.
“Many of the students are interested in the teaching profession but because the profession has yet to be given its rightful recognition, they are scared.
Parents have a Role to Play: Parents should allow their children to choose careers they are comfortable with and not necessarily imposing a particular career on them which might have negative effect.
“The importance of Career Day in Brilliant Academy, Agege, is for the students to have focus on the choice of their careers. Some students do lose focus on their career of choice later due to interference from parents and peer pressure.
“Parents should allow their children to choose their career and handle their choice path. They need to make up their minds in the aspect of profession they so desire.
References
“The State of Education in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities” by the World Bank (2018)
“Teaching as a Pseudo Profession in Nigeria: A Study of Teachers’ Perceptions” by A.A. Ademola and O.A. Adeyemi (2017)
“The Nigerian Education System: A Review of the Challenges and Reforms” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2016)
Teaching as a Pseudo Profession in Nigeria
Teaching as a Pseudo Profession in Nigeria
Teaching as a Pseudo Profession in Nigeria
Teaching as a Pseudo Profession in Nigeria
Teaching as a Pseudo Profession in Nigeria
