Teaching is specialized application of knowledge skills

Teaching is specialized application of knowledge skills

 INTRODUCTION Teaching is specialized application of knowledge skills and attribute desired to provide unique service to meet the educational and society (ozano, 2013). In order for a society to grow in all ramifications there is need for encouragement in the teaching profession.   Teaching profession in Nigeria has gone through many stages of development and still an issue of serious debate which probe the question of whether teaching should be called profession (ozano, 2013).  The term profession in generic sense is defined as a field of economic activity requiring academic preparation above the high school level (encyclopedia of education, 1971). It is also defined from the pragmatic perspective or specialist occupation as a body, a field of economic activity or a job description that provide specialized services based on the acquisition  of specialised  knowledge and skills by members who subscribe to a recognized regulatory body and code of ethics governing practitioner as well as control or admission of new members. A profession is made up of some characteristic according to Hoyle 1980.It include the following  An occupation which perform  a crucial social function. The exercise of this of function requires  a considerable degree of skill. The skill is exercised in situations which are not   wholly routine but involve the handing of new problems and situations. Members of the profession possess and draw on a systematic body of Knowledge to meet professional demand , in addition to the knowledge gained through experience.  The acquisition of the required expertise and systemic body of knowledge and the development of specific skills required a lengthy period of higher education.  The period of education and training also involve the process of socialization into professional values. The professional values, which member imbibe and took oath of allegiance to, are predominantly clients’ interest centred and they are stated in a code of ethics. By virtue of the requisite expert knowledge and skill demanded for professional practices entry qualification and work standard of members are controlled by a recognized certificating. Regulatory and profession affiliated institutional agency. The registered and recognised  professional bodies  tend to have greater autonomy over professional practice  and exhibit  high  degree of  commitment to  professional development by sponsoring continuing education programmes for  new  and old members    Members of the profession are usually rewarded by high prestige, adequate remuneration and general condition of service which also motivate them to remain on the job.       Status of Teaching in Nigeria The claim and perception of teaching as a profession in pragmatic sense as generated some controversy. Other established professionals such as medicine and law claim professionalism on the basis of possessions of the ten characteristic mention above. The Advocators of teaching as a profession such as teachers and National union of teachers (NUT) have identify some of characteristic which are true of teaching in Nigeria. Teaching requires the acquisition of a systematic body of knowledge, skills in a specialized training Institute for effective practice. Teaching is an occupations that perform a crucial social function because the product of teaching and teachers are expert that pass through school setting to acquire the minimum education. Teaching has a code of ethics for practicing teachers prepared by NUT. NUT is a trade union that lacks regulatory force on its members. Teaching requires activity that are learnt and not Inborn such as organizing, creating, communication, questioning . e .t. c. Teaching as a profession had been identified as a profession that centred on clients’ interest at the expense of the individual and collective welfare.  Inspite of all what has been mention above Teaching is yet to be fully recognised as a profession due to the following reasons. Firstly, the conception of whom a teacher is. According to Taylor and Hoyle 1969, a teacher is he or she   that is paid to instruct. Hence, just anybody can and do claim to be a teacher. This definition has make teaching as a non-professional job. Secondly, the use of unqualified individual in teaching especially primary and secondary schools had greatly eroded the profession.   Thirdly, the failure of members of teaching profession to meet the characteristic of a   profession .explains the reason why teaching has not been accorded as a real profession.  Fourthly, the lack of standardized entry qualification into the profession due to different entry requirement such as Grade III, II, NCE, B. Ed. Furthermore, unlike other profession teaching code of ethics is not administered to their members when admitting new members.  In addition, Teaching is a profession with a poor remuneration and lack Good condition of services so most professionals see teaching profession as a stepping stone before getting other lucrative job.    Problems and Prospect of Teaching as Profession in Nigeria Teaching profession is still faced with a lot of problems which can be viewed from the angle of practitioner and  Government (Ozano, 2013). This include the following The self concept of teachers, who are not proud of their profession, rated themselves and practice as non – professional. lack of autonomy on the part of NUT to control the services, training and work stand of its members  The NUT also failed to show real commitment to the professional development by encouraging      Continue education and career advancement.   The failure of Nigeria government to register the N.U.T as a professional body and put in place a good remuneration and working condition that will motivate professionals to have job satisfaction.   Lack of adequate funding and polices by Nigeria government for continuing education and career advancement.   Unnecessary intervention of Nigeria government on certification and admission of new member as well as government policy on mass employment of non -professional in public schools.  Conclusion  Teaching has to do with the systematic presentation of fact, idea, skills and techniques to student. If these problems are properly addressed then teaching may be rated high among other profession but in ability to tackles these problems will further degrade the profession.   References Encyclopedia of education, London Macmillan.  Hoyle ,  E. (1969). The role of the teacher. London: Routlegde and Kegan Paul. Hoyle, E.(1980). Professionalization and de Professionalization in education. World year book of education professional development of teacher. New York: kopan page. London/Nichols publishing company.     Hughes, E.C (1958). Men and their work. London in. Free press.  Okunloye, R.W (2012). Teaching as a profession II in Nigeria: problem and prospect. Journal of education management. Ozano, P.B(2013). Enhancing the teaching profession in Nigeria: A historical perspective. Academy Journal of interdisciplinary studies: Vol 2 No. 5