What government should do to revive teaching profession, by Nigerians

World Teachers’ Day is held annually on October 5 around the globe. It is a day set aside to celebrate teachers for the vital role they play in the society, often going above and beyond to ensure students and pupils receive quality education.

In Nigeria, the teaching profession has gone down and most people only become teachers when there are no better offers. Teachers no longer show enthusiasm in their job, especially in public schools.

In this report, some Nigerians suggest things that the government should do to revive the teaching profession, and reawaken people’s interest in the profession.

Govt must prioritise education – Ori Adam-Onum, lawyer; Makurdi.

To revive the teaching profession in Nigeria, the government must first prioritise education in general. This will transcend to due consideration of teachers’ welfare through timely payment of salaries, improved remuneration, and access to professional development opportunities. Investing heavily in training the teachers, advancing Science Technology Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) curriculum, providing modern teaching tools and an environment that is conducive for work, will not only boost teachers’ motivation but also improve learning outcomes across schools.

Additionally, restoring the dignity of the profession requires clear career progression paths, recognition programmes, and incentives for outstanding performance. When teachers feel valued, respected, and supported, they become more committed and dedicated to shaping the nation’s future through quality education.

Teachers salaries should be increased – Hon. John Ikwulono, ex vice chairman, Agatu LGC; Makurdi

I suggest that the government should encourage teachers by taking care of their basic needs and providing adequate support for them. For instance, the government should increase the salary of teachers, clear all arrears owed them, and give housing support to them to boost their morale to function optimally.

Secondly, the government should employ more qualified teachers and start with reasonable payment to encourage them to impact positive knowledge on the students or pupils as the case may be. The government should also provide school infrastructure such as standard classrooms, blocks for learning, desks, modern libraries and other teaching aids. The government should equally provide a wardrobe allowance for teachers to enable them to look good, instead of looking unkempt.

There should be health insurance for teachers, family members – Emmanuel Ogbidi, activist; Benin

The government should revisit the reward system for the teaching profession, at the primary secondary and tertiary levels.  The government should do something tangible for the teaching profession, which holds the very fabric of national and societal development.

Teachers should have a minimum of two of their kids on full government scholarship in the level with which they are teaching, (whether primary, secondary or tertiary).

There should be full health insurance for their immediate families to cover at least father, mother and four children and the policy that guarantees them a bright and assured future after retirement. 

A situation where teachers serving today are seeing teachers who retired years before they even joined the profession begging and wailing for their retirement benefits and entitlements calls for concern. Such an issue is not only discouraging but also not motivating.

Government must improve teachers’ remuneration – Shedrach Udugbai; Benin

At the core of good governance is human and infrastructural development. And human capital development takes precedence over infrastructure. Diving deep into human capital development, you’ll find two major items; education and healthcare.

Amongst both, education takes precedence. In summary, education of citizens is the core of good governance; it’s imperative and crucial because education is the army that liberates the human mind.

The government must improve the remuneration of teachers to attract the best brains while giving them the best working environment. You can never spend too much in education and be wrong. Teachers’ welfare should be enhanced

Teachers welfare should be upgraded – Phoebe Egbu, educationist, Aba

Before now, there is this saying that teachers’ reward is in heaven and this made government officials to treat teachers with disdain despite the noble role they play in moulding the future of our children and by extension, shaping the society. It is therefore unfair for teachers to be treated poorly.

The government should as a matter of fact take the welfare of teachers seriously and not relegate them to the background as is presently the case.  The salaries of teachers should not only be increased, their general condition of service should be looked into with the effect of upgrading it.

Primary, secondary school and varsity teachers should be given good treatment – Chidiebere Enyiazu, public affairs analyst; Umuahia

It is unfortunate that the government over the years has allowed the teaching profession to go down. This is so because teachers’ welfare is not being taken care of.  Before now, teachers were placed above any other public servants, but now, the reverse is the case.

For people’s interest to be reawakened in the teaching profession, the government should treat teachers the same way university lecturers are treated. The idea of relegating teachers to the background in terms of welfare package should be stopped if we should get the best out of them.

Salary increase will motivate teachers – Tarindogiyo Beimo Micheal, civil servant; Yenagoa

In the first place, they should be provided with an environment that is conducive for learning.

Many times, there are no materials, instruments and facilities to enhance learning.  During the time chalks were being used, you won’t get chalks to use. Now that markers are being used, in most classrooms, it is not available.   This kills morale. 

Secondly, the salary is poor. I was once a teacher, so I know. Teachers’ salaries compared to the salaries of other professionals such as doctors, nurses, engineers are poor. A grade level eight teacher’s salary is poor compared to the same level in other professions. So improvement in learning facilities and improved welfare, including salary increment will motivate teachers.

Teachers should be taken care of like our politicians – David West, CLO chairman Bayelsa; Yenagoa

Before, we used to say the reward of teachers is in heaven. But, today, I say the reward is right here on earth. The government should increase incentives to teachers.  Teachers should be treated the same way politicians are treated. Ironically, these politicians were taught by the teachers.

So, why can’t the teaching profession be made lucrative and juicy to motivate more people to come in to teach? The government should improve the learning facilities; pay them as and when due so that every teacher will be proud of their profession.

Teaching should be fully professionalised -Rev Olorunmagba, cleric; Kaduna

World Teachers’ Day should be one of the special days to be well celebrated. And teachers deserve to be celebrated not only on such a special day, but also consistently.

The teachers are regarded as life builders or destiny moulders. In fact, every other profession that anyone wants to go into, he/she must pass through teachers in preparation.

Unfortunately, the teaching profession has been so downgraded in Nigeria that it’s now regarded as a second class, if not third class profession. As a trained teacher, I was once in the teaching profession some years ago, it pains me whenever I hear people telling others that are seeking a job that, “you mean you can’t even get a teaching job while waiting for the main work?” Meaning the teaching profession is just regarded as a side job that one only engages as the last option to just manage before one can get a desired job.

And the appearance of most public schools teachers, compared to others of other professions is something else.

Obviously, a lot needs to be done to revive the teaching profession in order to elevate it to take its supposed place in the scheme of things to reawaken people’s interest in the profession.

The first is the full fledged real professionalism of the teaching profession through the Teachers Registration Council (TRC), so that the profession can truly assume the status of professionalism.

Teachers welfare should be enhanced – Allwell Ene, journalist; Port Harcourt

The government needs to increase welfare for teachers. Imprests should be given to head teachers monthly to run the schools. To ensure efficiency and effectiveness, the government should employ more teachers to reduce the burden on available ones. Improved infrastructure, provision of learning facilities would also go a long way to motivate teachers.

Teachers salaries, allowances should be equivalent to state lawmakers – Prince Wiro, activist; Port Harcourt

The government should provide large welfare packages for the teachers in terms of salary and allowances equivalent to that of House of Assembly members. Monthly pension, retirement benefits and gratuity of teachers should be reviewed and made very attractive. Laws should be made mandating the payment of such retirement benefits and gratuity not more than one month after retirement.