The Lagos State Government on Saturday urged teachers to collaborate more with it toward adding value to teaching and learning in schools across the state and Nigeria.
The State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, made the plea at the 2019 World Teachers’ Day celebrations in Lagos.
It was organised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State Wing, on Saturday in Lagos with theme: “Young Teacher; The Future of the Profession”.
The World Teachers’ Day is held annually on Oct. 5 to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the 1966 UNESCO/ILO recommendation concerning the status of teachers.
Adefisayo said that the World Teachers’ Day, was set aside to recognise and honour teachers as the builders of nation, whom should be well celebrated.
“Teaching is regarded, not only as one of the oldest professions, but also as the most noble profession.
“No society can achieve meaningful development in delivering quality education without placing premium value on its teachers.
“We can not afford to shy away from the fact that the teaching profession in our nation is far from where it ought to be, judging by some indices, local and international.
“These reports show teaching is gradually becoming one of the most relegated professions; presently, our children in the labour market consider teaching as a last resort,” Adefisayo said.
She said the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had promised to increase budgetary allocation to education.
“The government will empower teachers in every local government and strengthen their capacity to deliver quality education to our children.
“Employ technology-driven template to drive the education sector, creating conducive teaching and learning environment as well as training teachers in the state,” Adefisayo said.
Also, Prof. Taiwo Edun, Department of Educational Foundations and Counselling, Olabisi Onabajo University, Ago-Iwoye,Ogun, said the available funds from the increased budgetary allocation should be directed at the infrastructure decay.
Edun, speaking as a guest lecturer, said that the increase should also be geared toward the provision of modern teaching.
He said that the percentage of budgetary allocation to education in Nigeria was far lower than 15 to 20 per cent recommendation by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
“The fall out of the abysmally poor budgetary allocation to education is the poor working environment and poor salary for teachers which make the industry unattractive to young people.
“For youths that are intellectually endowed, their favourite professions are medicine, pharmacy, law or engineering that confer enormous social prestige and enhanced salary scale.
“Since Nigeria teachers are not known to ride in the best of cars, live in the best of houses, they are looked down upon by both the public and their own students,” he said.
Ebun said that teaching profession needs to be restored in order to sustain the present crop of teachers and making teaching choice for talented young minds.
