Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to enhancing the welfare of teachers across the country, recognising the pivotal role that educators play in shaping the future of Nigeria.
The President made this declaration during the grand finale of the 2024 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Abuja, Nigeria, centred around the theme: “Valuing Teachers’ Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education.”
He said the administration will continue to ensure quality education, which leads to empowerment, prevention of disease, and promotion of peace and unity in the country.
“I’m assuring you that this administration will continue to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that teachers’ welfare in particular and quality education that is a key to women’s empowerment, prevention of diseases, reduction of poverty and promoting peace, unity and prosperity is achieved in Nigeria,” President Tinubu said
He, however, said the government is aware of the challenges facing teachers and the teaching profession and has been initiating policies to assuage the challenges.
“It is pertinent to inform the populace that government policies and legislations have ensured availability, accessibility, professional development, motivation, monitoring and evaluation system, in practical terms,” he stated.
He said the government is working as enshrined in the National Policy on Education to ensure that teacher education is designed for certification after the acquisition of pre-requisite knowledge and skills through training and retraining as well as to make them adaptable to changing situations.
“Nigeria has joined the world with various legislations and policies to reposition teaching in a professional status. As a teacher you must acquire teacher education in order to possess specialized knowledge, skills and attitude needed to perform the task of teaching in the school system. The acquisition of the specialized competencies, qualifies a trained person to be a professional teacher,” he said.
He commended teacher for painstakingly improving themselves and improvising materials to teach in the face of challenges in some areas.
“Painstakingly, Teachers make efforts to develop themselves in the use of the emerging technologies for their teaching purposes. Teachers consider improvisation principles in their instructional activities, power bank and micro solar power devices, and makes the no-power, poor power supply complaints, a less issue,” he said.
The President was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Federal government of Nigeria, Senator George Akume.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, said the ministry, in collaboration with international partners, has been implementing the 23 Ministerial Deliverables apportioned to the Education Sector on assumption of office by President Bola Tinubu.
Also Read: World Teachers Day: Speaker Seeks Discipline, Morality In Schools
He said World Teachers Day provides teachers, alongside other stakeholders opportunities to create more awareness, examine the progress so far and offer solutions to challenges.
“I wish at this juncture to inform this gathering that the uppermost focus of the Ministry is in the areas of ensuring credible, timely and reliable education data at all levels; reducing the number of out of school children in Nigeria, and promoting skills development and acquisition at all levels.
“According to UNICEF, there are over 18 million out of school children in Nigeria. As apart of implementing the deliverables, in the last one year, we have been able to bring back to the class over 4 million children,” he said.
He said In order to address Teacher and learning crisis at the basic education level, deployment of technology in Education has become mandatory and preparation to that effect has reached an advanced stage.
“The program will soon be unveiled with the commissioning of Digital Resources Centre at Kado under the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). Achieving these and many more is the responsibility of all of us,” said the Minister.
The President of the National Union of Teachers, Titus Audu Amba said the teaching profession in Nigeria faces poor funding as less than 20 percent budgetary allocations as requested by UNICEF is always given to the sector.
“Leading to shortage of teachers, as there is a gap of over 194, 876 teacher in public primary school across the country according to a UBEC survey in 2024, sometimes with one or two teachers maning a whole school,” he said.
Others he said include: Welfare for teachers, security challenges, especially in conflict areas and natural disaster.
“This year’s World Teachers’ Day, therefore, provides us the opportunity to re-echo our call on all tiers of government to invest adequately in education and the teaching profession to ensure provision of quality public education for all,” he said.
He urged the federal government to return the funding of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) as it enhances teachers professionalism and global acceptance of its certification. He also decried stagnation of teachers at directorate level in Unity colleges, while calling for Implementation of all agreements on teachers welfare reached with the previous administration of President Buhari.
He commended the Federal government on implementation of the 40 and 65 years service extension for experienced teachers at federal and state levels and local government autonomy as it will take development to all nooks and crannies but wants primary school teachers’ salaries deducted on first-line charges to enhance efficient and timely payment.
“Let me use this remarkable occasion to commend the teachers of Nigeria for their courage, sacrifice, perseverance, resilience and commitment to their well-chosen career, even in the face of daunting challenges and odds against them in their day-to-day works,” he concluded.
The Grand finale was marked by cultural dances, match pass by teachers representing the 37 states of the Federation including FCT and presentation of Awards to schools and individuals, which includes cars, buses, computers. Kano State Governor Abba Kabir won the best Governor of the year award on education.
The 5th of October was set aside by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1994 to recognise and honour teachers across the globe for the pivotal role they play in transforming humanity and society.
Comments are closed.