Diligence is about showing commitment in whatever anyone does. It is about being focused and believing that one’s contribution to societal welfare, no matter how minimal, will make a difference. This is the hallmark that used to define the teaching profession. There was hardly any time when the pay or welfare given to teachers determined the level of input they make to the nurturing and guidance of their wards.
This tends to explain why the falling state of education in the country is usually attributed to poor wages and little attention to infrastructure by stakeholders especially the government. These issues took the center-stage last week as the country joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s World Teachers’ Day. There can be no doubt that the authorities have not done enough to support the growth of the education sector to the expected level. The relevant officials have continued to explain that all levels of government are faced with difficult challenges. The 2017 Teachers Day was another opportunity for the government to promise that the dilapidated education sector would be tackled in due course, as resources become available.
The federal government seized the chance afforded by the celebration to show its gratitude to some teachers who have gone the extra mile to give in their best in spite of challenges in the education sector. The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, at the celebration of the event in Abuja, handed over the keys of a brand new Nissan Almera, to 51 year-old Mr. Clement Nwoye Okodo, from Abatete, Idemili-North Local Government Area, LGA, of Anambra State, for emerging the 2017 Best Teacher in Nigeria.
For the diligent and committed young teacher, it was like a bolt from the blues. It was the classic fulfillment of the saying that when a child washes his hands clean, he could dine with kings. Mr. Okodo, who teaches in a primary school in Abagana, Njikoka LGA in Anambra state did not do anything spectacular to merit the honour. Well, perhaps, he did. He has never been known for cutting corners – engaging in other ventures in order to make ends meet – because of his poor pay or harsh economic conditions in the country. Not for him. His wards had for three consecutive years been passing all their subjects in flying colours.
Malam Adamu, who congratulated Teacher Okodo, pledged to continue to encourage teachers towards improving the standard of education in the country and explained that the Presidential Merit Award, in which, the car was presented to the overall best teacher, was intended to motivate teachers and school administrators in primary and secondary schools. He said empowering teachers, strengthening the teaching profession and the enthronement of quality education delivery at all levels in Nigeria are among the preoccupations and policy thrusts of the Buhari administration.
The Minister of Education stated that it was in keeping with the government’s commitment towards creating an environment conducive for teaching and learning to flourish, that the administration, at inception, tackled the issue of insecurity in the Northeast zone and other parts of the country. He said “In spite of the appreciable progress we are making in revitalizing the education sector, it is still bedeviled with so many challenges. These challenges are being systematically tackled and addressed. The declaration of emergency in the education sector and the launching of the Ministerial Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Education were further actions taken to consolidate the progress in the sector.”The Minister also disclosed that in 2016, more than N50 billion was allocated by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), to colleges of education, polytechnics, and universities to support the training of their teachers to obtain higher degrees. He said the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) also invested more than N4.4 billion of the 2015 Teacher Professional Development Fund in teacher training.
Mallam Adamu, who acknowledged that there was more to do to bring the education system to a desirable level to meet up with international standards, appealed to stakeholders to pay attention to areas that lead to skill acquisition, entrepreneurship, creative and innovative education. Also, speaking at the occasion, the National President of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Comrade Michael Olukoya, regretted that as at the end of September 2017, primary and secondary school teachers were owed from two to 11 months salaries and allowances in 17 states across the country. Mr. Olukoya condemned state governments that are owing salaries and allowances due to teachers in spite of the bail-out funds made available to them by the federal government. He went further “Worst still, some state governments have since adopted the inhuman act of paying monthly salaries in fractions, without any guarantee that the remaining part will be paid to the teachers”.
The NUT leader also condemned plans by some state governments to hand over public schools to private managers, arguing that the privatisation and commercialization of education would increase its cost beyond the reach of the poor. Mr. Olukoya therefore called on all tiers of government to take necessary steps to check the trend as well as to increase budgetary allocations to the education sector. According to him, it is the only way to ensure the provision of quality education for the benefit of all Nigerian children and for the overall development of the nation
