Niger govt advises teachers on productivity

Niger State government has advised teachers in primary and post-primary schools to change their attitude to work.

Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in the state, Dr Hadiza Mohammed, who stated this at a one-day interactive session with executives of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), to prevail on their members to improve themselves.

Represented by the Director, Test Measurement, the commissioner decried the lack of interest in the teaching profession and tasked stakeholders on the need to restore its lost glory.

The Head of Service, Abubakar Salisu, said the government has approved the promotion of about 200 civil servants who have spent over four years in their previous rank from grade level 16 to 17.

Earlier, the NUT chairman in the state, Adamu Akayago, disclosed that the event was aimed at training and retraining union leaders with a view to building their intellectual capacity.

On his part, the ANCOPPS chairman, Musa Nayawo, expressed concerns that a substantial number of experienced teachers have retired from service, thereby creating a vacuum.

He warned that unless urgent steps are taken to recruit new teachers, the sector may experience a setback while students also suffer.

He said: “Almost half of our senior teachers would be retiring from service, I am appealing to the government to approve the extension of the service year of teachers from 35 to 40, and the retirement age to 60 years.”