As Nigeria prepares to celebrate the World Teachers ’ Day on Thursday, the federal government has pledged to evolve better welfare and support scheme for teachers, especially in settling the backlog of salaries.
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, made the pledge at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja on the 2017 World Teachers ’ Day Celebration and President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award to hold on Thursday.
The theme for this year’s celebration is: “Teaching in Freedom, Empowering Teachers.”
Adamu said that the 2017 edition of the celebration of teachers was aimed at mobilising support for them to guarantee the needs of the future generations.
He said that the federal government had given funds to state governments to settle teachers’ salaries who were owed for months.
He said that efforts had been made by the present administration to ensure that backlog of teachers’ salaries were paid.
He said that the federal government had given funds to state governments to settle teachers’ salaries who were owed for months.
“We are concerned about the welfare of teachers and hence will ensure that Nigerian teachers receive their salaries as at when due,’’ the minister said.
On the celebration, he said that this year’s theme re-affirmed the fact that peace and security were necessary for the development of any nation.
He said that the theme was apt as no economic growth could be guaranteed without the positive atmosphere of peace and freedom.
“Education, which guarantees economic growth and development can only thrive and be positively imparted under the atmosphere of peace, freedom and security.
“Freedom here implies freedom from fear, chaos, harassment, retardation and degradation.
“Teachers deserve to be appreciated for their great role in nation building.
“Nation building certainly does not happen by accident rather it is a deliberate and conscious effort by men and women with vision and determination to leave enduring legacies.
“Teachers to a great extent determine the effectiveness of educational policies as they are the implementers of the curriculum.”
Adamu reiterated the importance of teachers because without teachers’ total dedication and commitment to their calling, a nation could be wandering in the dark.
“Empowering teachers means to equip them with the ability to deliver quality education.
“The federal government in its efforts towards empowering teachers has over the years taken strategic steps to develop framework for teacher education,’’ he said.
Adamu said that the federal government had also instituted the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award to show appreciation for the immense contributions of teachers to nation building.
Mr. Michael Olukoya, the National President, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), stressed the need to re-awaken the consciousness of nations and citizenry to the important role of teachers.
Olukoya said that there was need for teachers to be accorded status commensurate with the role they played in the society.
He commended the role of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in promoting the application of the historic recommendation concerning the status of teachers.
He praised Nigerian teachers for their resourcefulness, dedication and resilience in carrying out their professional tasks.
The UNESCO Country Representative, Mrs. Magdalene Anene-Maidoh, called for collaborative action to reflect the status of Nigerian teachers as well as empower them.
She also called for the capacity of teachers to be built to compete favourably with international best standards.
World Teachers’ Day has been celebrated worldwide annually onOctober 5 since 1994.
It was initiated by UNESCO as a proclamation to celebrate the great step made for teachers on October 5, 1966 at a special intergovernmental conference in Paris, France.
(NAN)
