Nigeria has lost over 30 per cent of the teaching workforce within the past three years.
The Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission, Alhaji Hamid Bobboyi made this known during a 6-day training organized by the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board, in collaboration with the UBEC.
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The training, which was held in Kano, was meant for 30 School Support Officers on SMASE and Jolly Phonics.
Bobboyi, who described the situation as frightening, said some of the teachers retired while others left the service without being replaced.
He however commended the Kano State government for the proactive measures to recruit additional teachers and replace the retired ones in the state while calling on other states to emulate the government.
According to him, “Nationwide, in the last 3 years, particularly beginning from the period of COVID-19, we have lost over 30 percent of our teaching workforce. And it is very frightening. A lot of them retired while some of them left the service without being replaced.
“So for Kano to be taking proactive measures in that regard is something that pleases me immensely. And I hope and pray other states should also learn from Kano and make sure that it can also take serious measures,” he said.
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He also emphasized the need for welfare for the teachers whom he said are critical to development of the future leaders and the country as a whole.
“The teacher is a very fundamental element in the entire ecosystem that we have. If you neglect the teacher who neglects the children, the country cannot develop. So we make sure, to safeguard the future of the country, we have to safeguard the welfare of the teacher so that he can also safeguard and make sure he develops the future generation that can take care of the country. In Nigeria, we have been making a lot of effort,” he said.
He commended the teacher development unit for organizing the training for the teachers describing it as a strategy that really works to ensure quality education.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Kano State Universal Basic Education Board, Yusuf Kabir, said the state government has approved for replacement of retired teachers in the state every three months.
He disclosed that the state government has approved construction of additional classrooms in each local government area as part of effort to decongest the existing classrooms to ensure a conducive environment for teaching and learning.
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“We have purchased teaching and learning materials to ensure smooth transmission of learning,” he said.
Meanwhile, the 30 School Support Officers selected from across the state were trained to conduct support to teachers handling the core subjects of Mathematics, English and Science to improve the performance of the students.
