CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Education has always been a powerful agent in any community, and it is widely regarded as an essential tool for bringing positive change to people's social, political, economic, and cultural lives. Many essential agents shape the entire process, and one of them is the teacher. In education, the instructor is said to play a crucial role. Preparing teachers for the teaching profession is viewed as a higher priority in any country since it is regarded as a challenging and critical profession that can lead to a nation's rise and success in various sectors. Education, as a large agency, plays a critical role in the development of strong and developed societies, and the teacher is one of the key agents in this process. As a result, it is always an essential educational requirement for teachers to get enough educational and professional training in order to acquire enough knowledge and teaching abilities, as well as the ability to devote themselves to the teaching profession. Most importantly, if provided to teachers, professional development and training programs must be offered, mentored, and reviewed on a regular basis by experts in the subject. Because skilled instructors are regarded as the foundation of excellent education and learning is viewed as a continuous process, efforts to build and improve teachers' teaching abilities and knowledge are critical and recognized in the field of education. A range of teacher training and professional development programs are available in many schools and colleges throughout the world to assist teachers learn and improve year after year. Aside from that, it is widely held that learning is a constant process that helps teachers improve their teaching skills and acquire new knowledge in subject areas, which in turn helps students learn better. Teachers are required to be not only competent but also professional in their associated professions and subject subjects, given the essential importance of education in any community. As a result, in order to satisfy the high demands and requirements of quality education, they must have a wide range of knowledge and abilities in both teaching and assessment procedures. The advancement of teaching and learning will be aided by high-quality teacher training and professional development programs, as well as inspiring surroundings. Deep and current knowledge, teaching and evaluation skills, clear and well-defined educational goals, love and enthusiasm, commitment, and good attitudes toward the teaching profession are, among other things, important characteristics that all educational and teacher-training institutions must examine and value. Educational institutions must make significant efforts to provide potential teachers at all levels with the knowledge and skills they need to foster a positive professional attitude. Some states have tightened teacher preparation and certification criteria, while others have loosened criteria and introduced "alternative" ways of being certified to lure more people to teaching. It is set against the backdrop of the government's assertion that "teaching in Nigeria is a legally recognized profession." The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria was established in this regard to control and regulate the practice of the profession. There was a stipulation that people who were currently teaching but were not professionally certified be given a time limit to qualify for registration or leave the profession.

Statement of problem

Another pandemic plaguing Nigeria's educational system is certificate forgery, which is similar to examination malpractice. And, unless serious measures are made to address the threat, it may be the quickest route for the country to reach the port of destruction. We now have a problem with the wrong people assuming crucial positions, effectively excluding talented Nigerians from such jobs. Because a person can not contribute what he does not have, this scenario does not inspire productivity. Ambassadors who can't sing the national anthem; school principals and teachers who can't speak proper English; legislators whose only contribution in plenary sessions is to second motions; professors who can't graduate students with higher degrees; PhD holders who can't publish papers in peer-reviewed journals; governors who won't let journalists cover their state. Part of the problem is an overemphasis on paper qualifications at the expense of individual aptitude. In several parts of the country, sandwich, part-time, and distance learning centers have been turned in to certificate hatcheries. Acute unemployment can not be separated from the tragedy, yet this should not be interpreted as permission to falsify documents. Just recently, twenty public primary school teachers have been dismissed for certificate forgery and for absconding from work in Niger State.

Objective of the study

1. To investigate the qualification of teachers on the academic performance of students

2. To examine the effects of unqualified teachers on students’ learning

3. To examine how teachers’ certificate verification will help in reducing certificate forgery among teachers

Research questions

1.     What is the qualification of teachers for the academic performance of students?

2.     What is the effect of unqualified teachers on students’ learning?

3.     How will teachers’ certificate verification help in the reduction of certificate forgery?

Significance of the study

This study will be of significance to state government as the will ensure that before teachers are employed there will be a verification of teachers certificates so as to employ qualified teachers into institutions of learning

Scope of the study

The aim of this study is to examine the essence of teachers certificate verification as a measure to restore sanity in teaching and learning at the basic level of education. This study will be covering mainly Niger state

Limitation of the study

Finance, inadequate research materials and time constraint were the major challenges the researcher encountered during the course of this study

Definition of terms

Teachers:is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence or virtue.

Verification: the process of establishing the truth, accuracy, or validity of something.

References

1. Borko, H. (2004). “Professional development and teacher learning: Mapping the terrain.” Educational Researcher, 33(8), 3-15

2. Craft, A. (2000). Continuing Professional Development: A Practical Guide for Teachers and Schools. London: Routledge.

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