EFFECTIVE NTI DLS OPERATIONS RESOURCES ROLES AND EXPECTATIONS

EFFECTIVE NTI (DLS) OPERATIONS: RESOURCES, ROLES AND EXPECTATIONS By Umerah, Chizoba F. Ph. D Zonal Coordinator, NTI, South-East Zone, Enugu At NTI, South-South Zonal Retreat for the Field Officers Date: 17 th February, 2017

INTRODUCTION The importance of teachers and roles they play in the educative process are central to basic education particularly in Nigeria. The National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) was mandated by the Federal Government with the responsibility of producing courses of instruction leading to the development, upgrading and certification of teachers using Distance Education Techniques. In ensuring effectiveness in the NTI (DLS) operations, the available resources – personnel, materials, funding and allocation of educational facilities as well as their roles were discussed. Recommendations were made to adequately guide NTI

WHAT IS EFFECTIVE NTI (DLS) OPERATION? Effective NTI (DLS) operation simply refers to the extent to which the distance learning activities of the Institute (NTI) have been accomplished using the Distance Learning System (DLS). WHAT IS DISTANCE LEARNING SYSTEM (DLS)? Distance Learning System (DLS) is the teaching learning process in which students are separated from the teacher by physical distance which is often bridged by information communication technologies, ICTs. It can also be referred to as Open and Distance Learning (ODL), Distance Education or Correspondence Education.

WHAT CALIBER OF RESOURCES AND EXPECTED ROLES ARE REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE In ensuring that the learning outcome is achieved through the NTI DELIVERY? operational delivery system, the following factors as well as their roles are considered; personnel, materials and adequate funding. A. Personnel: These are categories of staff employed at the states, study centers, zonal and headquarters offices. (i) Field Centers/State Offices They are the first link between students and the institute. (ii) Study Centers These are designated accredited higher Institutions used for the face-to -face contact sessions. They are termed as the ‘host schools’ and can host lectures, discussion, groups, seminars, film viewing, offer library services

Course Facilitators These are part-time professionals engaged for the main purpose to guide students on how to make proper use of NTI resource materials. Course facilitators must be knowledgeable, flexible enough, and delivery system adopted should be to the target of meeting the needs of the students. Center Desk Officers (CDOs) Center Desk Officers are permanent staff of the institute assigned to be in-charge of study centers within a particular state. They are the administrative head of the study center. They should therefore possess some of the following vital skills to enable them perform maximally: The Centre Desk Officers must be sincere, firm, approachable, ready to help people solve their problems and encourage others to work in harmony to achieve the goals and objectives of the Institute

Model Centre Managers They are the permanent staff of the Institute at the designated model study centres and act as both the academic and administrative heads for effective performance delivery. (iii) Zonal Offices These are NTI offices at the six-geopolitical Zones of the Federation. The zonal office is headed by a Zonal Coordinator. These offices liase with the state offices and NTI Headquarters. They monitor all activities of the Institute at the State level in ensuring that the targeted goals are achieved.

(iv) Administrators (Headquarters) The NTI Governing Council is the highest enabling body to manage the affairs of the Institute and is headed by the Chairman of the Council. The Management on the other hand is the highest administrative body and is headed by the Director General and Chief Executive.

B. MATERIALS The NTI printed course materials are specifically designed to optimize the knowledge transfer. These prints contain not only well-tested content but also include well separated sections with defined learning goals, different assignments for students to test themselves, extensive build-in-feedback, component to practice what is studied (including retrieved practices) tests related to those learning goals etc. These materials are nowadays supported by many digitized media. These include electronic communication technologies such as phones, radio, audio tapes, video tapes, television, computer based learning packages, social media etc.

C. FUNDING AND ALLOCATION OF EDUCATION FACILITIES This is obtaining and managing money and other resources. A critical look at the budgetary allocation given to states for the day-to -day administration of the programme gives room to question the quality of such programmes. The Center Managers and the course facilitators cry daily that the remuneration attached to the services rendered is very poor. The fact that there is often a high expectations on the Field Centers to serve as agents of positive change and transformation in the Institute is often hampered when during crises accusing fingers are pointed on them occasioned by misconduct of any type or mass failure of students. Thus, they are often the scape-goats but they are hardly given the capacity to do the job effectively nor their basic needs adequately met.

RECOMMENDATIONS/EXPECTATION S q. The relationship between administrators in Headquarters and Field Officers should not be that of servant and master but an ‘open door’ atmosphere where all parties contribute to the attainment of the institutional goals. q. Staff (both Permanent and Part-Time) should be trained and retrained to improve their skills through intensified workshops, seminars or conferences. q. The need for motivating staff should not be over-looked. Management should ensure that Center Managers, Facilitators and Host School packages are “real packages’. q. Study centers should be equipped with all the facilities needed for effective facilitation. Approval of study centers should not be done in isolation and sentiment should be over-looked.

RECOMMENDATIONS/EXPECTATION S… q. Center managers and facilitators at the study centers should be conscientious in their tutorials. They should poses traits of warmth, friendliness, patience and a sense of humour. Center managers and facilitators who fail to take initiative, but only to blame the institute when there is problem should be relieved of their appointments. q. All staff at the study center (both Permanent and Part-Time) should not be greedy and selfish and refrain from making unwholesome demands from students/ stakeholders especially during examination conducts, during admission, falsification of students records/scores etc and make financial gains at any given opportunity without considering the integrity factor. q. The Center Desk Officers (CDOs) have really assisted in boosting the administrative day to day activities at the Center

RECOMMENDATIONS/EXPECTATION S… q. Since the Institute accelerates teacher development at all levels, the need for periodic verification of staff credentials (both permanent and part-time) and students becomes paramount. The rate at which individuals claim to possess additional certificates through part-time studies has been on the increase. q. Reward for excellent performance among staff should be encouraged. They should be meritoriously promoted as at when due. Other forms of rewards can be praise, attending exchange programme etc. q. It is expected that the results of students should be released on time so that the graduates can make use of their results. Also, their transcripts and certificates. q. There should be early advertisement of the programmes at all levels – National, Zonal, States and Centers. This is to enable the prospective students meet to the targeted registration procedures and commence

RECOMMENDATIONS/EXPECTATION S… q The need to maintain strong relationship and good rapport with the host schools and all stakeholders should be hammered. q. At the beginning of each academic year, it is expected that the course materials /learners support materials should be available for students at the point of registration. q. There is the dire need to attend to students complaints by all the appropriate sections. In ODL, students are prone to experience physiological, psychological, economical, social and academic problems which negatively affect their performances. q. Government should encourage the Institute in carrying out their designated roles by appropriately equipping them in discharging their functions through funding. q. Monitoring of the Institutes’ programmes is absolutely necessary and this has been encouraging. This can be administrative, academic, Examination, Revenue, Course Materials, Teaching Practice, etc. The

CONCLUSION Distance Learning has opened doors for many students especially those who cannot afford to pay for the high fees of full-time courses. NTI strives to offer equal academic opportunities for Nigerian teachers by way of availing them the opportunity to pursue education with minimal cost and pressure. The ability to adapt to some of the major recommendations made, should be one of the most important attributes in attaining to a greater height.