Benue State University, Makurdi

REVITALISING TEACHER EDUCATION IN THE 21 CENTURY FOR MAXIMUM PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH SKILL TRAINING FOR EDUCATION COUNSELLORS

Olagunju, M.K.O, Balogun, Ibaraheem & Adeyemi, Shade Vivian

Abstract

Education and all its processes is not complete without involvement of services that cater for the cognitive, psychomotor and affective aspects of human life especially educational counselling. In view of this, this paper considers how teacher education can achieve its upmost productivity through skill training for education counsellors. The education counsellors are trained professionals who oversee the affective aspect of learners' lives and provide necessary information and support to make learners achieve academic success in schools. Many times, the role of the education counsellors has been identified to be in teaching st and learning in the 21 century schools. Thus, it is clearly inappropriate to assume that the role of educational counselling can be handled by anyone especially those without prior academic background. The paper discussed challenges of 21 st century education and students today, the concept of teacher education, productivity, school and teacher productivity and the concept of guidance and counselling and its roles in effective teaching and learning. The paper highlights the need to revitalize and reposition teacher education through skill training for education counsellors. To this end, education counsellors should be encouraged to embark on skill training programmes that match 21 st century needs for academic excellence. It is only when education counsellors have effectively carried out their duties in assisting learners achieve self identity and academic coping skills that the work of the classroom teachers can be made easier during teaching and learning.

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