Special Correspondent,OYE CHUKWUJEKWU, captures opinions of experts on strategies to ensure quality education in the country.
An agenda at valuing teachers and improving their status received pronounced mention at this year’s Teachers’ Day that was marked on Wednesday, October 5.
Teachers Day, which has assumed global dimension courtesy of the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) since 1994, has provided forum for showcasing the essential role of teachers in providing quality education at all levels, mobilising support, sharing experiences aimed at meeting the educational needs of present and future generations and have a rethink on issues facing teachers from internal perspectives and benchmarks.
Harping on this year’s theme, which centred on valuing the teachers and enhancing their status, Prof. EgbuleEkezie Patrick, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Vocational Education at Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, delivered a paper that captured the essence of the day in the event that held at Cenotaph, Asaba.
He lauded UNESCO for proclaiming October 5 World Teachers’ Day, stressing that a sound and quality education remained the bedrock of human development all over the world.
He noted particularly that, in Nigeria, the right of citizens to education is enshrined in the constitution, adding that the national policy on education recognises the pivotal role of teachers in the provision of quality education at all levels.
Patrick implored the government to appreciate, value and accord requisite status to teachers if they must perform effectively and achieve their roles.
He regretted that most students no longer take to teaching as a career, as against the trend in the past when teachers were seen as the most respected and educated people in the community. Part of the reasons for the poor attitude, according to the don, is that the value and status previously commanded by the teachers have fallen.
He argued that if teachers are not well respected and appropriately remunerated, it would be hard to attract fresh graduates into the profession.
Speaking at the occasion, chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Delta State chapter, Jonathan Jemirieyigbe, decried government’s poor attitude to teachers’ welfare, especially those in the state’s primary schools.
He called on government to retrieve the schools handed over to churches in order to decongest the public schools. In the alternative, he suggested the government engaging no fewer than 10,000 teachers every year as replacement for the number that retires from the system.
The chairman noted that Asaba, the state capital, is lagging behind in academic standard due to overcrowding in the schools, stressing that the only way to guard against further drift is by employing more teachers to reduce the pressure currently on those in service.
He commended dedicated teachers in the state for doing their best despite their meagre and irregular welfare package.
In his welcome address, the National President of NUT, MichaelOlukoya, noted that this year’s celebration was unique in the sense that it marked the golden jubilee of the adoption of International LabourOrganisation(ILO)/UNESCO recommendations concerning the status of teachers by a special inter-governmental conference jointly convened by the ILO.
He paid glowing tributes to his colleagues for their resourcefulness, patriotism, courage and commitment to building a better Nigeria.
He remarked that the 2016 edition of the celebration was marked in low key due to economic recession which, he said, is adversely affecting teachers in different capacities, the smooth running of the schools and the entire education sector.
Olukoya maintained that the theme of this year’s celebration was apt and relevant to the prevailing state of affairs in the country.
He urged the federal government to consider the age-long demand of teachers for raising their retirement age from 60 to 65 years, ensure that only professionally trained and qualified persons are engaged in the proposed recruitment of 500,000 teachers for effective service delivery in the school system.
He further urged the government not to relent on the efforts at fighting terrorism and providing conducive environment in the educational institutions in the northern part of the country. State governments, he added, should continue to take constitutional responsibility of providing and maintaining primary education in their domains.
These responsibilities, he added, include provision of funds for payment of salaries. Olukoya also kicked against the tendency at privatisation and commercialisation of schools at both the primary and secondary levels.