The Federal Government said today that it planned to hold this year's President's Teachers' and Schools' Excellence Award alongside the World Teachers' Day celebrations in Abuja.

"Arrangements have been made for the President's Teachers' and Schools' Excellence Award as part of this year's World Teachers' Day celebrations," Dr Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu, the Minister of Education, said. Aja-Nwachukwu was speaking at a symposium organised to herald the commencement of the annual celebration.

He said the awards were intended to boost Nigerian teachers' morale as well as improve the standard of education in the country. "We are all aware of the pre-eminent status which the teacher occupies in an educational, social, political and economic context of our development. "He must therefore be given appropriate place in our nation," Aja-Nwachukwu, who was represented by Dr Goke Adegoroye, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said.

He said the award was a token of the expression of government's appreciation and gratitude to the teachers for their dedication to duty. "In harmony with this year's theme 'Teachers Matter', President Umaru Yar'Adua is rewarding excellence in such a way that every Nigerian teacher will have a sense of belonging.

"Government does not pretend that it can compensate the teachers alone for their untiring dedication to the training of the teeming Nigerian citizens," Aja-Nwachukwu said. He called on the private sector and well-meaning individuals to join hands in according teachers more dignity and respect in the society. (NAN)