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Tag: Teachers

  • Sack all unqualified teachers, FG charges TRCN

    Sack all unqualified teachers, FG charges TRCN

    The Federal Government has called on the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) to intensify efforts in sanitising the education sector by weeding out unqualified teachers and upholding professional standards across the country.

    This directive was issued by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja, where he stressed the need for professionalism in teaching as a catalyst for national development.

    Represented by the Director of Education Support Services, Justina Ibe, the Minister urged the TRCN to continue enforcing its regulatory mandate by ensuring that only certified and competent teachers are allowed in classrooms nationwide.

    We must restore dignity and excellence to the teaching profession,” he said, emphasizing that the council must not relent in its efforts to improve learning outcomes by promoting qualified personnel.

    Also speaking, Chairman of TRCN’s Governing Board, Prof. Josiah Saliu, reiterated the council’s commitment to transforming the profession for the benefit of both learners and the country. He called on members of the council to work diligently and uphold ethical standards in the discharge of their duties.

    Prof. Saliu also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reinstate funding for TRCN, citing challenges facing the council since the withdrawal of budgetary allocations.

    He noted that “adequate funding, especially for staff salaries, will greatly boost morale and enhance service delivery.”

    It will be recalled that in 2023, the Federal Government announced it would stop budgetary allocations to professional bodies and councils starting from January 2024, following recommendations by the Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS).

    A memo issued by the Budget Office of the Federation, dated June 26, 2023 with reference number DG/BDT/GEN. CORR/2016/XII/3067, communicated the decision to affected bodies.

    The letter stated:

    “The Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS), at its 13th meeting, approved the discontinuation of budgetary allocation to Professional Bodies/Councils effective January 1, 2024… You will be required, effective January 1, 2024, to be fully responsible for your personnel, overhead, and capital expenditures.”

    The directive affected councils such as the TRCN, Computer Registration Council, and Librarians Registration Council, among others—who are now expected to operate as self-funded entities.

    TRCN Restates Commitment to Professionalism

    Reacting to the development, TRCN Registrar, Dr. Ronke Soyombo, lauded President Tinubu and the Education Minister for prioritising education reforms.

    She reaffirmed TRCN’s dedication to working with stakeholders to ensure that Nigerian teachers are professionally competent, globally recognised, and capable of delivering quality education.

    “Our goal remains to elevate the teaching profession and position Nigerian teachers for competitiveness in the global education space,” she said.

    The renewed drive comes amid broader reforms aimed at enhancing the quality of education and ensuring the right foundation for national development

  • Abia teachers set for strike over unmet demands

    Abia teachers set for strike over unmet demands

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Abia wing, has threatened to embark on a strike action on Thursday over alleged non-implementation of its demands by the state government.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the union’s Chairman, Mr Friday Madu and Secretary, Mrs Nnenna Okonkwo and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Umuahia.

    The union leaders said they have directed their members in public primary and secondary schools to proceed with strike action on Thursday.

    Madu said that the seven days notice served the government to that effect would expire on Wednesday.

    He alleged that the government had failed to address and implement its demands despite a 14 days ultimatum with a communique submitted to all concerned on March 28.

    He said that March salary payment was devoid of both minimum wage and Teachers Salary Structure (TSS).

    The union chairman noted that other unions with special salaries like the Medical and Health Workers Union, and the judiciary were paid with Special Salary Structure in March.

    He said that the teachers were still being retired by the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, despite Gov. Alex Otti’s approval of 65 years and 40 years elongation of services.

    “Promotions are released haphazardly without coordination, among others, which are explicit in our communiqué of March 5.

    “Non -payment of arrears of teachers in Basic Schools is part of the problem.

    “As our colleagues in Secondary Education Management Board have started receiving part of their arrears, it will be justifiable if Basic Schools Teachers are also considered,” their demands read in part.

  • Why Google is training 6,000 Nigerian teachers

    Why Google is training 6,000 Nigerian teachers

    An Educational Technologist, Dr Oluwakemi Olurinola, said that the emerging influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the educational sector has raised the need to train 6,000 teachers across the country by Google.

    Olurinola, who is from the Department of Science and Technology Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state, said this at the opening of the training on Tuesday in Abuja.

    She explained that AI had the potential to revolutionise teaching and learning, adding that teachers need to harness the power of AI to create more engaging and effective learning experiences for students.

    “We all know that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a critical digital skill deficit among our educators.

    “This challenge is compounded by the emerging influence of AI in the educational setting, introducing a new dimension of inequality that threatens to widen the existing skill gap.

    “As we set on this journey, let’s consider that the educational landscape in Nigeria is at a very crucial turning point, where the old ways of teaching are being questioned by the swift progression of technology,” she said.

    Speaking virtually, a Research Engineer at Google, Avishkar Bhoopchand, said the training would improve the experiences of teaching and learning.

    “We recognise the vital role that teachers play in shaping the future. We strive to provide tools and resources that empower them to create engaging and effective learning experiences.

    “In my work with Google Classroom and Workspace for Education, which offers an expanded access to digital literacy, our focus remains on fostering innovation and equity in education,” he said.

    The five-weeks training is expected to equip teachers in the six-geopolitical zones with AI skills and competencies.

  • Teachers leaving Nigeria in droves – TRCN

    Teachers leaving Nigeria in droves – TRCN

    The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has bemoaned the shrinking number of teachers available to impact knowledge within Nigeria and by extension the global community.

    The Acting Registrar, TRCN, Dr Stella-Maria Nwokeocha, disclosed this during a news conference in Abuja on Monday.

    Nwokeocha  revealed that a high-level panel on the teaching profession, set up by the United Nations also revealed this in its report released in 2024.

    She said this shortage of teachers necessitated the 4th Annual Online Conference of Registered Teachers in Nigeria scheduled to hold on Oct. 16 to 17, 2024..

    She added that the situation remained worse as a result of teachers leaving Nigeria enmasse for greener pastures abroad, due to dwindling fortunes in the profession.

    “This is why the 4th Annual Online Conference of Registered Teachers in Nigeria scheduled is a special response to the emerging global continental and national issues of interest”.

    She added that the conference was directly linked to international concerns and expected to deal with strategies for quality teaching and lifelong learning.

    She further said the conference would also look at national and international best practices in continuous professional upskilling of teachers especially with respect to knowledge, skills, attitudes, conduct and orientation of teachers.

    “The two-day conference will also aim at addressing implementation of professional development [PD] credits in advancing teachers along the career stages.

    “It will also look at institutionalisation of the community of practice [COP] within the teaching profession in Nigeria; as well as fostering of collaborative learning,” she said.

    She listed the theme for this year’s conference as, “Advancing Teacher Professionalisation in Nigeria Towards Education 2030: Challenges, Strategies and Prospects”.

  • Why we disengaged 109 teachers in Zamfara – Board

    Why we disengaged 109 teachers in Zamfara – Board

    The Zamfara Teachers Service Board said the recent disengagement of the 109 contract teachers by the State government was not based on ethnic, tribal or religious reasons. Chairman of board, Alhaji Muhammad Aliyu-Anka, stated this while speaking to newsmen in Gusau on Friday.

    Recall that the State government recently announced the dismissal of 109 contracted teachers over failure to abide by the government contract policy.

    “You know, the disengagement of the teachers was not on ethnic, religious or tribal reasons, it was for the interest of the state. You know Gov. Dauda Lawal declared a state of emergency on the education sector of the state. The state government embarked on massive infrastructural investment on education across the state,” Aliyu-Anka said

    He said that the provision of qualified and regular teachers was necessary to achieve the government’s policy. He said that some of the teachers had abandoned their contracts and they were teaching at private schools while still collecting salaries from the government.

    Aliyu-Anka said, “The board recommended the termination of the contracts of teachers who did not abide by the rules and regulations of the state. Many of the disengaged teachers were not attending schools to teach, leaving volunteers to teach the pupils.”

    The chairman stated that the volunteer teachers were more qualified and they were not receiving salaries from the state government. He said, ”Considering the roles played by the volunteers in our schools, the state government plans to recruit 2000 teachers to fill the gaps by the disengaged teachers.”

  • Group raises alarm over Okpebholo’s plan to scrap new salary scheme for teachers

    Group raises alarm over Okpebholo’s plan to scrap new salary scheme for teachers

    The Edo Salvation Group has expressed anger over the promise by Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate in Edo State to abandon the new salary package for teachers in the state.

    Speaking at a campaign rally in Auchi on Monday, September 9, 2024, Okpebholo vowed to discard the salary package being implemented by the Obaseki administration in favour of the yet to be implemented proposal of the Federal Government.

    National Coordinator of the Edo Salvation Group, Imman Ekpe in a statement following the APC rally expressed concern over the promise by Okpebholo to reverse the fortune of teachers in the state in favour of the suspense that presently faces federal workers over the new minimum wage.

    Noting that teachers in Edo State have been enjoying the N70,000 minimum wage since May 2024, the ESG said it was alarmed by the plan by Okpebholo to turn back the hand of the clock.

    The ESG quoted Okpebholo to have said: “We are going to ensure that we pay them (teachers) according to the law of the Federal Government of Nigeria, not Obaseki’s way of paying teachers.”

    Responding, the ESG said:

    “We are shocked by another gaffe by the APC candidate even if he followed up on our threat by coming up to say he will provide security and not INSECURITY as he said last Thursday in Ovia North when he missed his script as dictated by Senator Adams Oshiomhole.

    “However, whether he missed his script on education is now lost on us given his promise to abandon the new salary package for workers and teachers in Edo State. This is another disaster from the APC candidate and we urge voters to shine their eyes and open their ears to the plan by the APC to reverse their situation.”

    “We are again calling on Okpebholo to prepare to defend this proposal at the forthcoming debate for governorship candidates.”

  • Oyo opens teachers recruitment portal

    Oyo opens teachers recruitment portal

    The Oyo State government has noted that the job portal for recruitment of public primary school teachers will be accessible as from Tuesday June 25 by 6pm.

    Dr Nureni Adeniran, the Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board made the disclosure on Tuesday while briefing newsmen at the Board’s headquarters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    According to Dr Adeniran  the opening of the portal for the recruitment exercise was part of the state government’s bid to reduce unemployment among its citizenry.

    He added that the portal would register each candidate with his/her email, phone number, and National Identification Number, among other requirements, to provide suitable jobs, either as teachers or caregivers.

    Adeniran gave the site link as subeb.jobportal.oyostate.gov.ng for the recruitment of 7,000 teachers and 100 caregivers.

    According to him, the application will be on for the next three weeks, from June 25, 2024, to July 9, 2024, saying two applicants must not use the same email address for the application.

    “The government of Oyo State wants to expand the job space in the basic education sub-sector and those who are interested in working as caregivers,” Adeniran said.

    Education is a major pillar of Governor Seyi Makinde ‘s administration. We are going to have an inclusive government that will utilise valuable potentials that abound in the state, and that’s why we are employing new primary school teachers.
    “Education is a major pillar of Governor Seyi Makinde ‘s administration. We are going to have an inclusive government that will utilise valuable potentials that abound in the state, and that’s why we are employing new primary school teachers.
  • Gov. Adeleke lists new retirement age conditions for Osun teachers

    Gov. Adeleke lists new retirement age conditions for Osun teachers

    Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun has reiterated enforcement of approved guidelines as a condition to enjoy the new retirement age, 65 years old and length of service, 40 years for teachers in Osun public schools.

    This is contained in a circular issued by Mr Ayanleye Aina, the Head of Service, on Tuesday in Osogbo.

    According to the circular, all those interested in enjoying the new increased retirement age must comply with the guidelines as stipulated.

    According to the guidelines, for teacher to benefit from the scheme, he or she must be within the education cadre recognised in the scheme of Service.

    It also stipulates that the officer must be registered with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), be medically fit as ascertained by a qualified medical doctor and  must not be under any disciplinary action.

    It also said that the eligible officer would  be required to apply six months before he or she attains the age of 60 years or 35 years of Service, whichever was earlier.

    The guidelines also said that the  application must be endorsed by the Head Teacher/ Principal of the eligible Officer and addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education; among others.

    It however, said that the period of extension was not pensionable.

    It, however, directed the Ministry of Finance and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to stop forthwith, payment of salaries to those already enjoying the new retirement age without fulfilling the conditions.

    The circular reads: “I wish to refer to our Circulars Ref. Nos. SMD.61/VOL.III/36 dated 31st May, 2022 and SMD.61/Vol.IV/52 dated 20th October, 2023 on the above subject.

    “I reiterate that the conditions stated in the aforementioned Circulars still subsist.

    “Consequently, all those already enjoying the new retirement age and length of Service without fulfilling the necessary prerequisites have, by this circular, cease to enjoy such benefits until compliance with the Circulars.

    “For the purpose of emphasis, for any officer to enjoy the new retirement age and length of Service, the concerned Officer is requested to ensure that the guidelines were strictly adhered to.

    “For avoidance of doubt, a copy of the guidelines under reference is hereby attached. Relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government are requested to ensure wide circulation of this Circular and strict compliance”.

  • Ondo to recruit 2000 teachers – Aiyedatiwa

    Ondo to recruit 2000 teachers – Aiyedatiwa

    Ondo State Government has approved the recruitment of 2000 teachers into the state civil service as part of its efforts to reposition the education sector.

    The state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, made this known on Friday at the inauguration of late Rosa Jane Pelly legacy project at Fiwasaye Girls’ Grammar School, Akure.

    Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Olayide Adelami, said his administration would continue to prioritise education.

    “I am glad to say that the state government’s huge investment in the education sector is yielding positive results as our students are doing well on all fronts.

    “It is a known fact that Ondo State is now a force to reckon with in the education sector, both nationally and internationally.

    “We have recently approved the recruitment of 2000 teachers into both our primary and secondary schools.

    “This is to inject new blood into our schools.

    “Recently, the state government approved N550 million registration of students in the state-owned secondary schools for the 2024 WAEC examination,” he said.

    He lauded the commitment of Miss Jane Pelly, who served as the pioneer principal of Fiwasaye Girls’ Grammar School between 1960 and 1973, calling on good spirited Nigerians to partner the state in achieving its educational goals.

    In her opening remarks, the Principal of Fiwasaye Girls’ Grammar School Akure, Mrs Temitope Ojoge, commended the state government and the donor for their immense contributions to the development of education in the state.

    She said the building did not only symbolise progress and growth but also embodied the spirit of resilience and determination that defined the school community.

  • Rivers State: Teachers protest exclusion from N100,000 Christmas bonus

    Rivers State: Teachers protest exclusion from N100,000 Christmas bonus

    More than  100 primary and secondary school teachers in Rivers state on Friday, staged a protest at the Government House in Port Harcourt over alleged exclusion from the N100,000 Christmas bonus approved for civil servants by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

    The protesters alleged that other civil servants in the state have received theirs along with their December 2023 salaries, but wondered why they didn’t benefit from the bonus.

    Recall that Prior to the Yuletide holidays, Fubara approved the bonus for each civil servant, a development which ignited wild jubilation from the workers and both the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in the state.

    The aggrieved teachers, who occupied the Government House, expressed displeasure about the development and called on the state government to intervene.

    Speaking to newsmen on Friday, one of the teachers simply identified as Oke said, “We were so happy when we heard that the governor approved a N100,000 Christmas bonus for all civil servants. So we assumed that the last Christmas was going to be very great for us.

    “But as we speak today, this is January, a few of us as you can see have not received the Christmas bonus.

    “On Monday, schools will be resuming. Most of us travelled and we have returned.

    “We have exhausted all we have. So we are here this morning to register our complaints to our dear loving governor to help us talk to those who are holding our Christmas bonus.

    “Our N100,000 Christmas bonus should be released because it will go a long way in cushioning the effect of the hardship especially in this January.”

    Others who spoke accused their banks and the state Universal Basic Education Board of failing to address the matter.

    An official of the government who addressed the protesting teachers commended them for their peaceful disposition and assured them that their complaints would be looked into.