7 October 2008
Lagos — October 5 of every year has been set aside by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to mark the World Teachers' Day. Funmi Ogundare and Uchechukwu Nnaike report that teachers' expectations of a better deal remain high
The World Teachers' Day was inaugurated in 1994 to commemorate the signing of the UNESCO/ILO recommendation concerning the status of teachers on October 5, 1966.
The recommendation among others covers the definition of teachers 'status', scope, educational objectives and policies, as well as preparations for the profession, further education for teachers and mobilise support for them. More than 100 countries including Nigeria, currently celebrate the day on October 5.
With this year's theme 'Teachers Matter', the event was celebrated around the world because it fell on a Sunday. It was celebration across the world last Monday, October 6.
The Onikan Stadium venue of the celebration in Lagos State was filled with enthusiastic members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in their various colourful attires, all eager to make the best out of the day.
Some of the teachers who spoke with THISDAY expressed gratitude to God for making them teachers and stressed the need for government to step up efforts to meet their demands.
Mrs. Gbolahan Omolewu, a teacher at Sari Iganmu Grammar School, Orile, said that the teaching profession was the mother of all professions and that she felt fulfilled to be recognised as a teacher. "We are recognised all over the world. It gives me double joy and self fulfillment."
She however said the government needs to carry teachers along, when making policy decisions on education, adding that they should not just draft policies without putting teachers into consideration.
These policies should also be implemented and not treated as a mere paper work. Anything we cannot put into practice should not be on paper", she said.
Omolewu also argued that politicians should not use education as a political jingle or campaign strategy to win people to their side during elections.
Another teacher at Central Primary School Kirikiri, Mrs. Catherine Iwuh saw the day as a holiday. She was however not happy with the way teachers, especially those in public schools were treated.
"For teachers to be happy, certain things are expected of the government. For instance the issue of Teachers Salary Structure (TSS) should go beyond mere paper work and be implemented. Also, if you go to most public schools, you do not need to go too far to know the in problems. The road to my school is a source of concern to me, especially during the raining season as everywhere is water logged, including the playground, so students cannot play games during break period. All work and no play, they say makes jack a dull boy."
She regretted that teachers are still looked down upon and such attitude could not but reflect on the way they handle their duties.
She called on government to try and enhance teachers' conditions of service and remuneration by implementing the TSS and paying them their salaries as and when due and also equip the schools.
For Mr. Ebenezer Apelehin of Amuwo Odofin Primary School, Mile II, the government should take another look at the salary structure and ensure that teachers' take-home pay is commensurate with that of other professions. More teachers, he said should also be employed to assist the ones in service, continuous training and providing for them the necessary materials to work with.
He called on corporate bodies and individuals to also assist government in providing the necessary infrastructure to public schools.
Another teacher at the Roman Catholic Mission (RCM) Primary School Epe, Mrs. Elizabeth Faloye said the day was a memorable one because the world had chosen a day to celebrate teachers, having realised the important roles they play in the society. She said there had been a considerable improvement in the welfare of teachers and that it was also a reason to celebrate.
While calling on government to meet all the demands made by teachers during the last nationwide strike, Faloye said their job would be easier if government provides textbooks for the children, as well as furniture and teaching aids in schools.
Mr. Samson Olubunmi of Comprehensive High School Somolu said the event gave teachers a sense of belonging and portrayed the profession as an important one that has developed a lot of people. He called for an improved welfare package for teachers "so that our take home pay would be able to take us home and meet our needs." He also expressed hope that the TSS would be implemented in due course.
Mrs. Zainab AbdulMajeed, who teaches at the State Primary School Agege, said although teachers do not generate physical revenue, they impart both moral and physical knowledge on children, so they are indispensable for the growth and development of any nation. In order to continue the good work, she said teachers needed to be motivated; government should also employ more teachers, provide a conducive environment for teaching and learning, as well as renovate existing structures in schools.
In his address, National Deputy President of the NUT, Chief Onem Nelson Onem said the theme of this year's event "underpins and emphasises the indispensability and relevance of the teacher in the overall process of educational development", adding that no nation's educational system can out-grow the quality and status of its teachers. The importance of the teacher in the educational system, he said remains paramount to the actualisation of the goals and objectives of the nation's educational system, such that any nation that toys with the fortune of her teachers invariably toys with its development.
To ensure that teachers are well taken care of, Onem said the country should try and provide responses to questions like: 'In what ways have we, as individuals, groups or government organisations shown deep concern to the plight of the teacher; how has the welfare of the teacher been reflected on the agenda of national discourse and when last did you say "thank you" to a teacher who made a difference in your life or the lives of your children?'
"As a way of emphasising not just the importance of a teacher, but the need to appreciate him or her in the actualisation of educational objectives, more cardinal questions such as: To what extent is appropriate financing considered and countenanced as an essential and inevitable ingredient in the realisation of educational goals; how are the roles of teachers perceived and rewarded as a motivating factor, bearing in mind that they remain at the heart of the education process, among others, should engage the minds of every fair-minded stakeholder."
He regretted that the Nigerian society that benefits maximally from the worth of the teacher pays little or next to nothing for the services rendered by the teacher. As such, the struggle for the enhancement of the emoluments of the teachers of Nigeria through the institutionalisation of a distinct Teachers Salary Structure (TSS) lasted for 17 years. He said no nation that places premium on teachers would allow such an important issue to linger for so long. Therefore, he said the recent five-week strike that the union embarked on did not come as a surprise.
He called for a prompt implementation of the allowances as enshrined in the signed agreement, "state and FCT governments are however expected to go the extra mile and pay percentages higher than the agreed minimum of 27.5 percent."
Emphasising on proper financing of the education sector, which he said was paramount to the realisation of the overall goals of education in any nation, he said over the years, government budgetary allocations to education have continued to fall short of the UNESCO benchmark recommendation of 26 percent.
"One of the major problems that calls for concern in an occasion like this is the issue of non payment of terminal benefits to retired teachers, most of whom had been pushed to their untimely graves due to non-payment of their outstanding retirement benefits. This sordid situation is not only demotivating, but paints a picture of bleak future to serving teachers and invariably affects their level of productivity negatively."
Lagos State Chairman, Comrade Michael Alogba-Olukoya regretted that the recent strike by teachers was allowed to take a severe toll on the nation's educational machinery, when the federal government refused to release the enabling TSS circular that also disrupted the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior Schools Certificate Examination. He said the educational axis became worse with students who were supposed to be in school, finding their way to the devil's workshop. "Without well qualified, well paid, caring and committed teachers, as well as conducive learning and teaching environment, neither improved curricular and assessment, nor safe schools; not even the highest standard in the world would ensure that our children are prepared for the challenges and opportunities in this millennium", he said.
Alogba-Olukoya said education would continue to make a difference between those who will prosper in the new Lagos/economy and those who would be left behind.
The Chairman listed the challenges facing teachers to include dearth of teachers, especially in secondary school; delay in the conduct of promotion interview and promotion implementation of primary school teachers; insurance cover and enhanced medical care; running of schools, among others.
"There is no gain saying that this government abhors illegality in its entire ramification and the union equally stands by this principle. Education is a long term investment and capital intensive, introduction of minimal and affordable levy to be paid by parents would go a long way in complementing the effort of the government, since education cannot be totally and absolutely free. Perhaps, this would assist and complement the effort of the government in provision of furniture and other needed infrastructures in schools", he said.
Activities marking the day included a colourful march past by teachers in all local governments, cultural display, as well as good will messages.
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