By Omowumi Samuel.
Nigeria has joined the world to celebrate its teachers, every October 5, which is marked to commemorate teachers all over the world for their selfless service and role in nation building.
This year’s theme is tagged: ‘Teachers at the Heart of Education Recovery’. This is apt and succinct to create awareness on the status of teachers in our society and also to expose the challenges teachers face in ensuring effective delivery of education to all learners around the globe.
Present at the event is Nigeria’s number one citizen, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of State, Chukwuemeka Nwajioba.
He reproved that UNESCO has inaugurated this day to commemorate and motivate diverse countries of the world to stir and honor the teaching profession. The role of teachers in nation building can not be over emphasized.
Mr President added that the Federal ministry of Education has commenced the pilot implementation of the increase in retirement age to 65 or 40 years of service for teachers and education officers.
Speaking further, he assured that outstanding salaries of affected teachers will be paid before the year runs out.
In his word, ‘I know that for teachers to effectively be at the Heart of Education Recovery, there is need for continuous re-tooling’, and he therefore guaranteed that teachers will henceforth undergo annual training on modern techniques of teaching and learning.
He urged the NUT body and teachers in Nigeria to have a rethink on the past events and ensure they reciprocate the landmark gesture by pledging their unflinching support and commitment for excellent service delivery, since to whom much is given, much is definitely expected.
The Honourable minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, was represented by the permanent secretary, Sonny Echono, who highlighted in his opening remark the willingness of teachers to serve and their flexibility to adapt to situations.
He also added that the ministry in collaboration with relevant Federal ministries, Departments and Agencies has provided an avenue for the proper takeoff and reopening of schools after a long closure as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to him, ‘the endemic has exposed the resilience and ingenuity of the professional teacher’.
The minister reiterated that proper measures are being put in place to ensure that the learning environment is fit and safe for the well-being of teachers, learners and the school community at large.
The National President, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Dr Nasir Idris, noted that the Covid-19 crises has expanded the role of teachers and has also placed greater burden on them. He therefore encouraged teachers to embrace the use of technology in their service delivery, which will help them to be resilient, creative and innovative.
In his words, ‘ this will help them to meet the new trends and challenges of the rapidly changing world’.
Teachers and school administrators who has distinguished themselves as symbols of excellence were presented with gifts in various kinds. In the category of the best teacher for public school, Nnabeze Bridget Maduchi from Anambra State emerged as the overall winner, and honored with a brand new car, for the private school category, Ogunleye Samuel from Emerald High school in Ogun state topped the category.
Our Correspondent reports that Indeed the reward of teachers resides in heaven, but it starts here on earth.
