The global community commemorated World Teachers Day yesterday October 5. This is in line with hit the 1966 recommendations of the United Nation Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO and the International Labour Organization, ILO on the status of the teacher. According to UNESCO, World Teachers’ Day aims at appreciating, assessing and improving educators of the world and to provide an opportunity to consider issues related to teachers and teaching. Each year, UNESCO and Education International mount a campaign to help give the world a better understanding of teachers and the roles they play in the development of the learners and the society. Both organizations advocate that everyone can help by celebrating the profession, generate awareness about teachers’ issues and accord teachers respect regardless of where the society places them.

 

Today in Anambra State, the narrative is being re-written as Governor Chukwuma Soludo has taken it upon himself to place education and the educators in the right positions.

 

The demands of any society can only be attained through education wheeled on the vehicle of focused school system with quality of teachers at any given time.

 

It is, therefore, heartwarming that Governor Chukwuma Soludo has taken urgent steps to address the problem of teacher shortage in the state following the recruitment of 8,115 teachers. He has surrounded himself with educationists like Prof Ngozi Chuma – Udeh who has made her mark nationally and internationally as Commissioner for Education.

 

Apart from these, many outstanding achievements recorded by the Governor in the education sector stands him out as a governor who has the political will to change the course of things in teaching and learning in the state. They include the massive announcement of free education for public primary and secondary schools; regular payment of teachers salaries and allowances, immediate payment of arrears of leave allowances owed secondary school teachers by the immediate past administration on assumption of office, regular promotions and implementation for teachers, appointment of a leader of Nigeria Union of Teachers into the management of Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB which was last seen about two decades and the gradual payment of retired teachers’ gratuities.

 

These numerous successes will ensure the provision of quality education in our state but there are some loose ends that also needs to be tied to ensure that these successes are sustained. They are the strengthening of security in schools in the state to finally put a nail on the coffin on the impact of the observance of Monday sit-at-homes which has since come to an end; the implementation of the new retirement service age for teachers and the elevation of teachers’ promotion ceiling to salary grade level seventeen.

 

The teachers, are therefore, called upon to truly commit and re-dedicate themselves to advancing the profession as the truth remains that “no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers”. They must also reassure the Anambra State government and the good people of the state that they are ready to join forces with Governor Soludo to make our public school system a model in Nigeria.

 

Once again, Happy Teachers’ Day!

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