PRIME DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESS IN EDUCATION

Many views have been held by various scholars about the core meaning /definition and importance of Education. In essence, these views are still obtainable, but many of them have been modified and improved upon. It is on record that education does not have a universally acceptable definition.

Interestingly, the concept of education keep expanding overtime. That is why it is not so appropriate to refer to someone as an educated/learned person. This is because learning is an integral part of education and education itself continues so long as there is life.

Basically, Ukeje (1970) said solemnly that education is an indispensable instrument for reconstructing the society. In other words, education is the bedrock on which National Development depends. And any nation/state whose educational system is substandard, definitely, such nation/state substandard. Therefore education from all perspective can be seen as the means to the emancipation of underdevelopment and poverty which are another irregularities that threaten national growth and development.

It is evident that no educational system is complete without teachers. Basically, education has two components; Input and Output components. Teachers in great deal serve as integral part of input component. Ukeje (1970) and Fafunwa (1969) had written extensively on the prime importance of teachers to the educational development of any nation be it simple, complex, developed or developing.

From the writing of these educators, Jekanyinfa (2009) posits that “whatever facilities are available, whatever content is taught, whatever environment the school as situated and whatever kind of pupil and whatever the pupils are given the teach, the important and vital role of the teacher cannot be overemphasized”. Supporting the necessary facilities are adequately provided for the environment is conducive for learning, the curriculum satisfies the needs of the students and the students themselves have interest in learning, learning cannot take place effectively without the presence of the teachers.

Teachers represent the large portion of the input device of an educational system. Fayemi (1991) also observe that, “it is truism that teachers are the hubs of any educational system; that upon their number, their quality and devotion depend the success of any educational system. “This suggests that teacher’s education and teachers’ motivation stand supreme in the effective actualization of educational aims, goals, and objectives. Thus, Fafunwa (1979) emphasized that “…the overall problem of preparing the future citizens of Africa who will be fully oriented to their environment cannot be fully accomplished without the aid of components of teachers.”

It is worth stabling fact that standardization of teachers education leads to teachers’ competence, whereas the provision of necessary teachers’ motivational factors leads to immeasurable/magnificent teachers’ devotion which in turns gives rise to improvement in standard of education. In essence, when a teacher is seasoned (properly educated), he is competent; when a teacher is motivated, he becomes devoted, and because he is devoted, he makes sure that he offers his best. Therefore, the conglomeration of the bests from various teachers gives rise to standardization of educational system.

It is pertinent to note that when a teacher is trained (teacher education), a nation is trained, when a teacher is motivated (teachers’ motivation), it spurs him to go extra mile beyond in making students learn. A properly trained and motivated teacher is the most advanced and sophisticated weapon to fight ignorance, poverty, underdevelopment, lawlessness and other irregularities that constitute unrest in both economic, social, health, agricultural, banking, industrial and other sectors of the nation.

In other words, improvement in teacher’s education and teachers’ motivation positively influences other sectors of the economy. That is to say, Government should strive to ensure that the fundamental privileges of teacher is given to them. A teacher can be well seasoned “educated”, but without motivation, he may not be zealous to give his best; and at such, the nation/state’s educational system would not beget its best; since no nation can rise above its teachers!

Therefore, teacher’s education and teachers’ motivation should not be neglected if the aims, goals and objectives of education can be effectively achieved.