This week, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed commitment to ensuring that Nigerian teachers receive the recognition and rewards they deserve under his watch. Speaking at the 2023 World Teachers’ Day commemoration, he emphasized the importance of education in driving innovation and global cooperation.
“Our commitment to actualising our education reforms is to drive the emergence and sustenance of a system that recognises that education is the mother of new ideas and groundbreaking discoveries,” he said. “With well-taught workforces, we are not only going to build a nation that thinks but one that lives in an interconnected world, a world where the exchange of knowledge and ideas knows no boundaries.”
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President said Nigeria’s future can only be safeguarded by investing in education, empowering the teachers and providing every child with the tools to reach their dream destination.
The President acknowledged the challenges faced by teachers, including overcrowded classrooms, scarce resources and limited opportunities for professional development.
He attributed these challenges to the prolonged neglect of the teaching profession. He emphasized that investing in education and empowering teachers is crucial for safeguarding Nigeria’s future.
The decline in interest in the teaching profession has become a cause for concern. Fewer young people are choosing to pursue careers in education, leading to a brain drain in the sector. The President recognized the need for incentives to attract young people to the teaching profession and addressed the growing apathy towards it.
One of the key issues affecting teachers is the lack of adequate compensation. Many teachers receive low salaries that do not reflect the services they provide. Some public school teachers earn as little as N15,000 monthly, which is not a sustainable income considering the economic state of the country. Delayed salaries and discrepancies in payment further compound the problem. Tinubu called for an increase in salaries and better policies to compensate teachers for their work.
Improving working conditions is another important aspect that the President highlighted. Many teachers complain about the complexity of tasks, increased workload, and poor working environments.
Public schools in Nigeria often lack basic amenities, such as proper infrastructure and facilities. Tinubu emphasized the need to provide a conducive environment for teaching and learning, including aesthetic buildings, offices, and classrooms. Incorporating technology into education was also mentioned as a way to attract young teachers and reduce the workload.
The President recognized the importance of continuous professional development for teachers. Ensuring that teachers have access to training and opportunities for growth is crucial for sustaining their interest in the profession. Lifelong learning should be encouraged to keep teachers updated with the latest teaching methods and trends.
Tinubu also expressed gratitude to Nigerian teachers and acknowledged their role in shaping the future of the nation.
He emphasized that education is the pathway to global harmony and sustainable development.
He pledged to modernize the educational infrastructure and incorporate new learning technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual classrooms.
No doubt, teaching is an indispensable occupation in every society and country. And the only way to enjoy it is to have sustainable structures that will benefit the teachers and students. The government has a role to play, but individuals must do away with the derogatory mindsets they have about the teaching profession. Making teaching attractive starts with how we see it and how much we understand its importance and the significance of teachers in our lives.
Thankfully, Tinubu understands all that and expressed the nation’s gratitude to Nigerian teachers and said that the teaching profession is an important one for the nation and its development.
The President, rightly so, believes that teaching is the reason the child of a disadvantaged family in a remote village clings to the same future as children from privileged homes with certainty. He said that by investing in education, by empowering our teachers and by providing every child with the tools to reach their dream destination, Nigeria’s future will be safeguarded.
Of course, it gladdens the heart to hear the President say that his administration is going to modernise the educational infrastructure and make sure that we are in step with the world on the road to the future.
So be it!
