NGO Advocates Improved Welfare for Teachers

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Worried by the present economic hardship in the country, a non-governmental organisation, Pristine SACC Education and Technology Initiative, has appealed to both the state and federal governments to prioritise better welfare and enhance support systems for teachers in order to ensure quality delivery of teaching for students.

The group made the appeal in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, yesterday during a Teachers Roundtable Discussion it hosted to deliberate on teachers’ socioeconomic status, teachers’ job performance and students’ academic achievement.

The programme was attended by teachers and managers of schools in Ilorin.

Speaking at the event,  the Executive Director of Pristine SACC, Mrs. Aisha  Umar, noted that “teachers play a critical role in shaping the future of our nation by imparting knowledge and nurturing young minds.”

She, however, lamented that their contributions were often not well appreciated and their welfare neglected.

Umar, who was represented by Miss. Hanifat Balogun, stressed the need for reforms to uplift the status of teachers in society, adding that her organisation would continue to promote professionalism in the teaching profession and advocate better welfare for teachers.

Also speaking, the organisation’s Programme Manager, Sulyman Abdulfattah Odore, said though teachers are important stakeholders in educational institutions and should lead the task of promoting quality education in Nigeria, they cannot be faulted for the present state of education in the country because the reward system is poor.

According to her, “Teachers are under-recognised, underappreciated, and unmotivated, and their pay does not cover their costs.

“The discouraging socioeconomic status of teachers poses a serious risk to their effectiveness at work and to the academic success of their students. This needs to be addressed so as to get the best out of them.”

Odore who emphasised the need for teachers to embrace technology to improve their efficiency in class and reduce their workload, encouraged them to use appropriate artificial intelligence, all tools to prepare lesson notes and to also make learning fun for their students.

On his part, the Director of Programme of Pristine SACC, Mr. Sodiq Ajala, advised teachers to always invest in their self-improvement and seek training and professional development opportunities.