Ukorebi Esien
Ukorebi Esien|8 October 2016
5th of October was celebrated world wide as teacher’s day. The day which was set aside by UNESCO an arm of United Nations in 1994 is aimed at highlighting the rights and responsibilities of teachers as well as promoting international standard of education, recruitment, employment, teaching and learning conditions, and also celebrate teachers for their contribution to development and civilization.
This year’s celebration goes with the theme: “Valuing teachers, Improving their status”.
As Nigeria join the rest of the world to celebrate this day, it can be said that this year’s theme best fit the situation of the Nigerian Teachers they really deserve to be celebrated, valued and improved.
The day was observed in Nigeria with teachers lamenting the precarious state of Nigeria Teachers in the comity of teachers globally.
It is no longer news to say that the standard of education in Nigeria has dropped and both teachers and students are struggling to compete favourably with their counterpart worldwide. In Nigeria it is very common to see over loaded classroom with over 80-100 students per class.
Many schools are still using black boards and chalk whereas other countries use white boards and markers.
Teachers are owed salaries, teachers teach with stress, empty stomach and in an unconducive environment. Most staff rooms are nothing to talk about as they are filled with uncomfortable chairs and tables for teachers.
Teachers are supposed to be placed on high value with maximum respect from both government and the masses for the role the play in educating, training and molding the nation’s future. But in Nigeria the reverse is the case as our government has no value for teachers and the teaching profession. This is expressed in the peanuts allocated to education in the yearly budget. State governors have been greatly accused of unfair treatment they dish out to the teaching profession. Majority of the states in Nigeria are still owing teachers months of unpaid peanuts salaries. In my own opinion I think teachers deserve higher pay even more that government officials. Teachers should be one of the highest paid if not the highest paid in Nigeria.
Teachers in Nigeria marked the 2016 world teachers day on empty stomach, unable to pay their children school fees and unable to wear decent cloths most of them live in homes with minimal or no comfort.
As we celebrate this year’s world teachers day, we at achievers wisdom House are lending our voice to call on all stakeholders to create an enabling environment for the Nigerian teacher to practice their profession. Lets key into this year’s theme “valuing teachers, improving their value status”.
Improving the status of teachers goes beyond monetary value it includes building their capabilities to ensure they deliver better education.
According to Prof. Peter Okebukola former NUC Executives Secretary “Almost half of the teachers in Nigeria have severe quality deficiencies” many of our teachers are substandard, we need to heighten quality assurance. It is based on this that we call on all the agencies that are concerned with teachers’ registration and regulation to sit up and deliver on their mandate. Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), National University Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical education (NBTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE). All these agencies have a role to play in adding value to the teaching profession in Nigeria.
Teachers at all levels should be schooled and tooled with ICT knowledge and equipment to enable them take advantage of the fast evolving ICT world so as to deliver their curriculum effectively.
Government at all levels Federal, State and Local Government should be more concerned with developing our standard of education which includes teachers’ welfare. The education sector should be allocated at least 25% of the yearly budgets.
Teacher’s salary and remuneration should be increased and paid promptly and constant capacity building programmes should be organized for teachers. As well as conducive teaching and working environment/equipment be provided for teachers.’
Finally teachers on their part should make use of every available opportunity to improve themselves and love their job as well show more commitment to their profession.
The teaching profession is a dignified profession that must be treated accordingly. All hands must be on deck.
We use this medium to wish all teachers worldwide, especially the Nigerian teachers with emphasis on all teachers in Cross River State. Wishing them a happy and fruitful celebration.
Ukorebi Esien
Executive Dir., Achievers Wisdom House
Achievers wisdom House is a human resource and capacity building organization with special interest on the education of the Rural children and street kids.
The organization has carried out several projects for secondary school students and streets kids such as;
• Trained of over 200 secondary school Prefects and class captains in CRS.
• Coached over 2000 schools students on career choice, academic success, goal setting, personal development, leadership etc.
• Established Readers/Leaders club in about 10 secondary school in CRS.
• Plans are on ground to educate more than 10 million out-of- school Nigeria children.
• The establishment of the first ever street school for street children is already concluded.
Ukorebi Esien
Is the Executive Director of Achievers Wisdom House
