EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORM IN A PERIOD OF SOCIO-POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY.

Abstract

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Education for sustainable development gives learners of all ages the knowledge, skills, values and agency to address interconnected global challenges including climate change, loss of biodiversity, unsustainable use of resources and inequality. The roles of Teacher Education in sustainable National Development cannot be underestimated. Despite this fact, Teacher Education has not been well strategized and focused for achievement of this sustainable development in Nigeria. This paper therefore focused on the importance of teacher education and how it can help to sustain the national development. It also x-rayed the teacher education in Nigeria with a view to producing quality teachers in Nigeria and in relation to the sustainable national development. It reviewed the relevance of teacher education and also highlighted on training and professional competencies of teachers. The concept of sustainable national development was also highlighted as related to teacher education. Types and objectives of Teacher Education were briefly discussed in relationship with teachers’ roles in national development. No nation builds a strong and effective educational system without improvement on its teacher education programmes. This is because teachers remain the pillars through which education can transform and improve the development of any nation. The paper therefore, looked into teacher education and its objectives; the roles of education in national development and suggested ways to improve teacher education in order to achieve sustainable national development. Conclusions were made and recommendations drawn from the discussions.