President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a special salary scale for
Nigerian teachers while also increasing the years of service from 35
years to 40 years.
Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu
Adamu made this known in Abuja during the occasion of the 2020 World
Teacher’s Day.
The theme of celebration ” Teachers: Leading in Crisis Reimagining the
Future” captures the resilience of teachers and school administrators
globally amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Buhari instructed the ministry to facilitate the implementation of the
new teachers’ salary scheme saying this will encourage the teachers in
delivering better service.
According to him, teachers have the power to shape and reshape the lives
of young people and help learners to enhance their potentials.
” Only great teachers can produce excellent people and students that
will make the future of our country great.
”A positive or negative influence of a teacher on any child will have an
effect on that child. Therefore the federal government is ensuring
quality education to access
” My administration has resolved that quality education of teachers in
terms of engagement of continued professional development has to be
given priority.
” The future of this country will be a function of quality education
delivered to our children today and this depends on the quality of our
teachers and the quality of our teachers depend on the motivation and
their motivation depends on how happy they are doing what they are
doing.
” To address these challenges, my administration has approved the
following for teachers and the teaching profession. That in order to
attract investment in the teaching profession, the quality of the
introduction of a bursary award has been restored.
“There will be a special pension scheme to enable the teaching
profession to retain its experienced talent as well as extend teachers
retirement age to 65 years and the duration of teachers years to 40
years.
” And that is to create a career path policy for the teaching profession
in Nigeria and gives speedy teachers to programme and ICT training.
He added that his administration had also approved the building of
low-cost housing for teachers in rural areas, the sponsorship of
teachers, prompt payment of salary and timely promotion of teachers to
eliminate stagnation.
He said this would motivate and restore the lost glory of teachers and
teaching in the country.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukuemeka Nwajuiba
identified the teaching profession as the greatest profession in the
world which must be accorded adequate recognition and respect.
Nwajuiba noted that the picture of a Nigerian teacher in the 1960s and
1970s which connotes discipline needed to be replicated in today’s
profession.
According to him, having a day to celebrate the teacher is just but a
token gesture of recognition to the sacrificial contribution of
teachers.
” In those days, very comfortable and important figures in the society
would send their children to a teacher’s house for grooming. That was
the teacher then.
” Teacher’s children and those that lived with them became the crème de
la crème of the society. The society sadly has tilted towards ephemeral
appearances that negates the standard of teachers as role models.
” We think this should stop. Teachers deserve recognition and respect.
The first step is to have qualified teachers in practice.
” That is why the ministry through the Teachers Registration Council is
making concerted efforts to withdraw unqualified teachers from the
classroom nationwide,” he said.
The minister however urged individuals, states, and local government
education authorities and corporate organisations to replicate the
reward system in order to institutionalise productivity in the education
sector.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of
Education commended the enduring selfless devotion of all teachers
across the federation especially those in crisis thorn and remote areas
for their invaluable contribution to the development of education.
” I also wish to appreciate UNESCO for its recommendation to all nations
to dedicate the 5th of October of every year as the special day to
remember the signing of the standard-setting instrument on the status of
teachers and also extol their virtues.
” To the individual, who has enjoyed the privilege of being taught by a
teacher, I urge you to always remember to appreciate that special
teacher who laid the foundation for the success you have achieved in
life.”
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the celebration witnessed
awards of Best School Administrator, Best Teacher in Public School, Best
Teacher in Private School, among others. (NAN)
