TEACHER PREPARATION, QUALITY EDUCATION AND EMERGING ISSUES IN CURRICULUM IN AFRICA

Abstract

Quality education should be the dream of any education provider globally. Teachers are the ones trusted to teach and prepare leaners for future goals and aspirations hence the need to strengthen teacher preparation process. Every country needs to develop hence education is critical Education realization of for sustainable development goals. Teacher education policy and practice has not been able to conform to the education demands and requirements for the 21st century skills in Africa. In some countries in Asia, Africa and other developing continents, achieving quality education has been hampered by the quality of teachers trained In Kenya and Nigeria, the status of the teaching profession has been compromised due to mirage of challenges like old and outdated curricular, fragmented education polices which does not reflect the societies needs and wants. Using a descriptive survey, the study was TO investigate the concept of teacher preparation, quality education and emerging Curriculum in Africa with specific reference to Kenya and Nigeria. Carried out in two cities that is Nairobi County, Kenya and Jos City, Nigeria, the study targeted teachers, teacher trainers and trainees, education managers and curriculum developers. The target population was 500 respondents from each of the two states. The study was carried out within a period of two years. The study was grounded on Change Theory or Change knowledge. The study realized that teacher preparation process in the two countries still faces a number of ups and downs which need to be addressed. The other major findings was that despite the two countries having an increase in population for the last 20 years and global changes taking place, the teacher education curriculum is yet to change much to accommodate the new breedof leaners entering the education sector at various levels. The recommendation was that, teacher training curriculum has to confirm with societal expectations.