The Nation Newspaper

Tag: teachers

  • 1.8m teachers register with TRCN

    No fewer than 1.8 million professional and qualified teachers have been registered with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

    Its Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Josiah Ajiboye, gave the figure yesterday in Abuja at an interactive session with reporters on the progress made so far by the agency under his leadership.

    He said the agency registered 295,000 trained teachers in 2016 to add to the existing 1.5 million professional teachers it had earlier registered.

    The TRCN boss said the council successful distributed Teachers Bio-data forms to 774 local governments with the assistance of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT).

    “The bio-data will help to know the numbers of subject teachers and where they are located across the country and this will address the issue of dis-proportionate distribution of teachers,” he said.

    Ajiboye said about 15,000 trained teachers will sit for the first batch of the re-introduced Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE), which is schedule to hold next month nationwide and in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    He said the PQE would be Computer-Based Test.

    Ajiboye said the TRCN in the last twelve months dispatched 21 letters of Professional Standing to Nigerian teachers seeking teaching jobs abroad.

    He added that 24 letters of Professional Standing requests were made by Ontario College of Teachers, Canada, Teaching Councils of Australia, United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (U.S).

    “The letter is an article of faith and a Memorandum of Understanding Nigeria signs with other countries. Such agreement covers the anecdotal records, moral standing and the educational background of the prospective applicant.

    “With letters of professional standing, trained and qualified and duly registered teachers with the TRCN don’t need to go through or sit for exams again abroad before commencing their teaching profession,” Ajiboye said.

    He said the council would embark on active and strict monitoring next year to get rid of quacks from the teaching profession.

  • Teachers’ salaries

    •It is crucial to empower local governments to perform their statutory role in a democratic setting

    A coalition of three unions has agreed, in the spirit of compromise, to support local government autonomy proposed by the National Assembly. The unions are:  Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN). This is, however, on the proviso that primary education would not  be under the management of local governments.

    Speaking at a regional Constitution Review Committee of the 1999 Constitution in Lagos on behalf of the teachers, the National President of the NUT, Michael Alogba, said: “We are here to say no to autonomy if primary education will be put under local governments.” Further, he argued for revival of the defunct National Primary Education Council (NPEC), a central agency the union perceived to have been responsive to the needs of teachers: “We are not averse to local government autonomy, but the fact that experience is a great teacher has shown that when primary education was put under local governments, it was suffering galore and we do not want a continuation of that.”

    On his own part, the NULGE president, Ibrahim Khaleel, added: “We are for autonomy, that is why we are here, and when you are talking about visibility of government, the only thing that will make it visible is when finances, administration are free from unnecessary encroachment… So, the NUT is our sister union and there is no ambiguity between their demand and our own. In summary, demands of the coalition of unions of teachers, local government employees, and medical and health workers include putting education on direct funding from the Federation Account, barring which, it must be put under state management.

    Although the union leaders do not see any ambiguity in the positions they have proffered: Yes to local government autonomy, No to placement of primary school education under local government management, we see glaring ambiguity in these positions, particularly in the unions’ conceptualisation of the role of local governments in consolidation of democracy at the grassroots, social development, and national development. Every serious labour union must be sensitive to the capacity of its employer to pay workers’ salaries.  Therefore, the NUT is perfectly within its rights to feel worried about the capacity of local governments to pay teachers’ salaries.

    Admittedly, there were times in the 1990s when local governments in many parts of the country were unable to pay teachers’ salaries as and when due, the period is too short in the nation’s history to serve as sufficient condition for theorising that local governments are essentially unable to manage primary education. In many modern democracies, local governments are in control of primary and secondary education while states do the same for tertiary institutions. Many federal states even do not have universities the way Nigeria does. Germany and the United States are such examples. To demand a situation where federal, state, and local governments manage primary education may lead to more problems than stakeholders of primary education are able to imagine at the present stage in amendments of the 1999 Constitution.

    Certainly, teachers, like other public employees, have been victims of recurrent reform of local governments in the country. The first few years of ‘New Breed’ politicians towards the end of the Babangida regime were years of failure of local government administration in respect of primary school development. Even states in the last two years have defaulted in payment of civil servants’ salaries. Thus, the challenge before the country is not to push for multiplication of sub-national units or critical sectors: education, the military, the police, and other agencies to be funded from the Federation Account. Doing so, or even releasing critical sub-national levels as local governments from performing the crucial role their counterparts in other countries do to advantage may not be the answer.

    The answer is for the country to commit to modern governance in all sectors. What is the significance of having a three-tier governance structure in which the third tier and the closest to the grassroots is released from managing primary public, and regulating private primary education? Citizens need to be involved in provision of public education, particularly pre-primary and primary school education, and there is no more democratic way to do this than to give this charge to local governments.

  • Obaseki orders arrest of teachers over examination malpractices

    Obaseki orders arrest of teachers over examination malpractices

    Some teachers in one of the privately owned primary schools in Edo State have been arrested for allegedly attempting to manipulate the conduct of the Primary School Leaving Certificate examination held across the state yesterday.

    They were arrested on the orders of Governor Godwin Obaseki who paid an unscheduled visit to some schools where the examination held.

    Obaseki was at the schools to ascertain the level of sanity and orderliness during public examinations.

    The governor expressed displeasure over activities noticed at Ologbosere Primary School in Ikpoba Okha Local Government where an official and a private school teacher accompanied their pupils to sit for the primary six examinations.

    Other centres visited by the governor included Ebenezer Primary Schools, Ivbyenova Primary School, St Saviour and George Idah Primary School.

    Obaseki said his visit was part of his quest to reposition basic education with a view to bringing glory back to education

    The governor, who declared that the era of malpractice during examinations was over, wondered why some parents wanted to gain access into the examination venue.

    According to him: “We are bothered about the corruption and malpractices in examination process, as you can see, a lot of parents had to be kept out particularly those from the private schools who may have paid for their children to do well.

    “They wanted access into the schools to be able to influence the process of the exams and they were stopped.

    “I am happy that our officials have done well in ensuring that the standards we require and want to set are met.

    “For the private school teachers who were caught trying to influence the examination, they would face the law as we are going to investigate them and l am sure that the Ministry of Education has its own rules on how to deal with such matters.

    “We decided that we will have the examination for primary six pupils which is a standard exam properly monitored.

    “As a policy, we have decided that this exam should be reorganised and made a lot better and professional.”

    Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Osayuware Idahosa, said the challenge of shortage of examination materials was mitigated.

  • CBN, NERDC to develop teachers guide on financal literacy

    CBN, NERDC to develop teachers guide on financal literacy

    The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with other financial institutions have unveiled plan to develop teachers’ guides. This will promote financial literacy and  the teaching of Financial Education Curriculum (FEC) at the basic and senior secondary education levels.

    This is coming after the NERDC completed the process of developing the stand-alone financial education curriculum, and its infusion into the school curriculum.

    Executive Director, NERDC, Ismail Junaidu, said the move is necessary for the effective implementation of the FEC and the teaching of the carrier subjects at the basic and senior secondary education levels.

    Junaidu said by infusing financial education into the school curriculum, school children will be empowered to make informed and appropriate decision in managing their resources.

    “The CBN can play all roles especially funding. It is funding that has taken us to this level. I am grateful and encouraged because we did not experience any hitch at any given time at all the stages of the project. The CBN and the financial institutions has been very supportive and kept to their commitment and that is what encouraged the NERDC to come this far”, Junaidu said.

    Speaking at a workshop in Lagos, CBN Director, Consumer Protection Department, Umar Dutse reiterated the apex bank, financial regulators and all stakeholders commitment to the project.

    According to her, financial education would fast track government’s target of reducing the number of Nigerians excluded from the financial system from 46.3percent in 2010 to 20 percent in 2020.

  • Edo to train teachers on new pedagogy

    Edo State Government has said it would use the forthcoming long holidays to train teachers in the state on new methodology for teaching children.

    It said the introduction of the new teaching methodology was part of its plans to re established basic education in the state.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki who disclosed this in an interaction with newsmen in Benin City said it was one of the major and most important investment his administration would make in the education sector.

    He said any child deprived of sound basic education would not have confidence to do exams without cheating.

    He said all the systems for monitoring of teachers and ensure the school curriculum are well transmitted to a child have broken down.

  • Foundation trains, rewards teachers

    Last Saturday was learning and rewards day for public school teachers in Lagos State as the Chairos Foundation held its sixth Teachers’ Conference at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island.

    Hundreds of teachers learnt from experts in education and other fields who made presentations on various topics including: “Curriculum Developers: A compliment to nation building”, “Global Etiquettes: Necessity for teachers”, “The teacher’s health with respect to work-life balance” among others.

    The first paper on “Building Structure and bridging the gap between the school and the home” underscored the need for the schools and homes to be partners in progress.

    Its presenter, Tochi Opara said: “There must be cooperation between the school system and the home that is devoid of competition and power play.  Parents should not berate the teachers in the presence of their children.

    On his part, Mr. Ayokunle Fagbemi, Executive Director, Centre for Peacebuilding and Socio-Economic Resources Development (CePSERD), said it was necessary for teachers to understand child psychology.  If they do, he explained that they would have better relationship with the pupils in their care.

    To get the attention of their learners and ensure they are learning well, Fagbemi told the teachers to learn to listen, ask questions in ways that reflect what the pupils have learnt.  For instance, asking open-ended and probing questions would help pupils think and talk more about what they learn.

    Underscoring the need for teachers to develop new skills as they progress in their careers, Mr. Ferguson Uzomah, Project Manager, QPMC Abuja, said doing so would prepare them for future opportunities.

    “There is need to move from learning to professional development. The time for change has come. There should competition even among the teachers which will be of benefit to them in future,” he said.

    In her etiquette paper, Mrs Ada Osuagwu, advised teachers to ensure that their interactions leave others with their self-esteem intact.

    To this end, she counseled the teachers to learn to speak softly and politely, respect people’s personal space, ensure written communication is devoid of errors, and communicate in languages acceptable to whoever they seek to communicate with.

    In an interview, Mrs Boumo’a Sagay, the Executive Secretary, Charios Foundation, said the conference was one of the Foundation’s programme to enhance Nigeria’s cultural heritage.  She added that the programme was a capacity development opportunity for public school teachers who may otherwise have been unable to afford it.

    “We want a situation where we adopt what is obtainable abroad. Abroad teachers have one development every term.  But we noticed that here it is an elitist thing.  We want to make it available for every teacher. For the foundation if all that is discussed here is followed up effectively in the school, then we have promoted the Nigerian cultural heritage,” she stressed

    Awards were presented to teachers who distinguished themselves in their subject areas.

    Mrs Olufunmilayo Odeleye of Education District IV, nominated in the Art Category, won the grand prize of a return ticket to the United Kingdom on British Airways.  For placing second, vocational teacher, Onojade Oghenenowho, also of District IV, won a trophy in addition to a prize for fortitude and strength; while Hakeem Olanrewaju, who came third, also got a trophy and a prize for Innovation.

    Other nominees were presented with medals of honour.

  • LSUBEB chair to teachers: neglect no subject

    The Executive Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Ganiyu Sopeyin, has charged public primary school teachers not to neglect any subject.

    Speaking on Friday in Lagos during the presentation of the Year 2017 Leadership Award by the ECOWAS Youth Council, Sopeyin noted that at the elementary stage of education, all subjects are vital to children’s development and enhancement in education.

    He said research had shown that early childhood education should be taken seriously by both the parents and the government because it is the foundation level where the interest of every child is developed, hence the need to get it right.

    He described the award as well deserved, saying it could not have been possible without the support of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who has provided the wherewithal for the improvement of the standard of education in the state.

    He noted that awards are meant to spur one to perform better, adding that teachers in the state public primary schools have improved tremendously in delivering qualitative and quantitative services in their schools.

  • Teachers protest against planned return of pay to local govts

    Teachers protest against planned return of pay to local govts

    More than 500 teachers protested in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital yesterday against against any plan to grant autonomy to the local government.

    The teachers said their salary should not be ceded to the councils.

    The teachers, who are members of the Oyo State Wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), insisted that payment of primary school teachers and the funding and management of primary schools should not be give to the local government

    The rally took off at the Agodi State Secretariat of the Nigerian Labour Congress  (NLC). It was led by the Chairman, Comrade Niyi Akano. Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Waheed Olojede also joined the protesters.

    The protesting teachers went to the Oyo State Government Secretariat to deliver a protest letter to Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    Some of the inscriptions on the placards carried by the teachers read: “Nigerian Union of Teachers, Oyo State Wing says no to local government autonomy. Basic education is a right of every child”, “Local government councils do not have the capacity to pay primary school teachers salaries”, “Basic education is a right and must be protected by all”, “Foundation of education in Nigeria under threat again”

    Others read: “Pay teachers regularly for a sustainable primary education”, “Our children’s future must be secured”, “Funding of primary education should be the responsibility of the state and federal government”

    Akano said the rally was not a protest against salaries arrears but a fight for the soul of primary education in the state and the country.

    He said experience had shown that the local government tier lacked the capacity to run and fund primary education effectively, particularly because that is the bedrock of education.

    Olojede maintained that allowing the local governments to take charge of primary school education is a good way of sending the sector back to the woods.

    He recounted that the period between 1990-1994 when local governments enjoyed full autonomy was the worst for the sector as many teachers were at the mercy of council bosses before getting their salaries and entitlements.

    The union leader said should the Federal Government insist on granting autonomy to the local government, issues such as managing, funding and equipping primary schools should be transferred to the state governments.

    He further suggested that payment of primary school teachers’ salaries and entitlements should be left with State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

    Oyo State Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo received the protest letter on behalf of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

  • Teachers protest over proposed handing over of primary schools to LGs

    Teachers protest over proposed handing over of primary schools to LGs

    TEACHERS under the auspices of National Union of Teachers (NUT), have in Kaduna staged a protest against what they termed “danger in handing over the affairs of primary education to local government authorities” in the country as enshrined in the drive for local government autonomy. Chairman, Kaduna State Wing of the Union, Comrade Audu Amba, who led the protest in Kaduna, stated that, it is important for the public to know the danger inherent in the ongoing agitation for local government autonomy as it affects the funding and management of primary education. According to him, “the renewed agitation for local government autonomy has made it imperative for the NUT, to sensitise stakeholders and the general public on the danger inherent in handing over the affairs of primary education to respective local government councils should autonomy of local government be granted.

    “The primary concerns concern of the union is not the issue of local government autonomy, but we are of the firm belief that the provisions of the 1999 constitution which vested the onus of funding and management of primary education on states while the local government participates, as interpreted by the Supreme Court should be upheld to save primary education from imminent collapse that may arise from local autonomy and scrapping of the state and local government Joint Allocation Account.

    “We equally consider it quite apposite to make the position of the constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court known on the matter and emphasize the need to uphold same to safeguard the future of our teeming youths,” he said. Amba, added that despite the fact that the union is not allowed to take its protest to state Assembly, they are calling on well meaning Nigerians to support their cause to ensure that the foundational framework of the entire educational structure in the nation is not pulled down.

  • ‘Stop councils from paying teachers’ salary’

    Lagos State chapter of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) yesterday protested the continuous payment of primary school teachers’ salaries by local governments.

    The union threatened to shut down schools nationwide if the state government did not remove the payment from the councils’ schedule.

    Its chairman, Adesegun Raheem, who led the protest from Oregun Senior High School to the House of Assembly at Alausa said: “We are here to enlighten the public, the state assembly and the government that there is a catastrophe looming particularly in the education sector, and for it not to happen, the best way is to make sure salaries and allowances of our teachers in primary schools are gotten without unnecessary stress or bureaucratic bottleneck.

    “It has always been through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), which is a parastatal of the state government that our salaries are being paid.  Now that local government is struggling for autonomy, we are not against their autonomy but we are saying that salaries and allowances for primary school teachers should be excluded from their autonomy.  We are proposing that it should reside with the state government or be taken to the federation account so that it is gotten as a matter of first charge.

    “Local governments do not employ teachers; therefore they cannot pay teachers. You do not pay for service you do not demand. We are saying local governments cannot afford to pay our teachers and the best way to do that is to approach the state assembly which would give consent through concurrence and that is why we are here.

    “But if the government does not comply with our demand, we will be forced to shut down both public and private schools in the country.”

    House Committee on Education, Chairman Lanre Ogunyemi promised that the lawmakers would look into their complaint.

    “For the proposal, whatever the Federal Government is bringing to us, if it is not in the interest of our people we will not accept.  The content of your letter which you have submitted to the governor and the speaker will be perused and we will invite you to a round-table session with us on what is in the best interest of all,” he said.