By Gabriel Dike
A Professor in the Department of Childhood Education, College of Specialised and Applied Education, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, Florence Ogunyemi, has advised education stakeholders to address the issue of low esteem of Nigerian teachers.
Ogunyemi, who recently gave a lecture at Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Ijanikin, acknowledged that teaching is one of the least attractive professions in the country.
She spoke on “Valuing Teachers Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education in Nigeria”. She stressed the urgent need to make the profession attractive, adding, no teacher, no nation.”
The TASUED don said, “we all agree that no meaning success can be achieved in the education sector without teachers in the right numbers and quality. In Nigeria and many other parts of the world, however, teachers are treated like the African children who are to be seen, not heard.
“We are made to believe that teachers’ rewards are in heaven, not here and now even in a depressed economy like ours! We are also told that teaching is a noble profession, by which some suggest that aspiration to a life of comfort like riding a beautiful car and living in decent accommodation should be for bankers, lawyers, doctors, engineers and others in highly valued professions not teachers.
“Only few teachers in today’s Nigeria would like their children to take after them. And with the widespread “Japa syndrome”, the bulk of our children would only take to the teaching profession in Europe, North America and other parts of the world where teachers’ work is highly valued and rewarded.”
Ogunyemi observed that for vast majority of Nigerian youths and their parents, teaching is only a stepping stone and a compass for locating the greener pasture whether home and abroad.
According to her, teachers play the roles of originators of ideas, mentors of novices, personal and career counsellors, managers of human and material resources, surrogate parents and many more within and outside the education system.
She noted that the work of teachers in shaping the future of children and working tirelessly for the progress of education in any society cannot be over emphasised, saying, “it is pertinent to hear their voices, respect and value them not only within the walls of the school but involve them in the curriculum planning and implementation and decision-making process that affect the unique profession.”
Prof. Ogunyemi said personal observations and research evidence has shown that teachers’ voices are critical elements to educational success and the ability to meet the needs of students.
The TASUED don described teachers voices as invaluable resources, which should not be taken as distraction or treated with levity within and outside the educational system.
“Teachers are the pillars of the education structure and are at the front line of the education system. Their voices critical assets to formulating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating policies in the education sector.
“No meaningful reform in education can be attained without teachers’ inputs and teachers’ pivotal role in realizing the educational goals of the nation cannot be overstressed.
“If teachers are given the opportunity to collaborate with other stakeholders in education, a drastic improvement in the planning, implementation, and success of new education strategies and reforms would seamlessly be realized,” Ogunyemi stressed.
The professor of education explained that teachers would not only feel more esteemed if involved in the decision-making process, they would feel more valued and respected, and the motivation to undertake their central role, which is, delivering quality education would greatly increase.
According to Ogunyemi, valuing teaching and teachers’ voices is a challenge that must be addressed squally and expeditiously if Nigeria is to join the league of nations where social contracts in education are established and thriving.
Said she: “To show that we value teaching as a profession and we appreciate what the teachers are doing, Nigeria must address the low esteem of teachers arising from the poor reward system, the uninviting working environment, incomparable public image and other debilitating conditions of those who build and mould the characters and competences of our future leaders.”