The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has commended the Federal Government for commencing the recruitment of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers, describing the initiative as a major step towards addressing teacher shortages in Nigerian schools.

In a statement addressed to President Bola Tinubu through the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, NAPTAN President, Prof. Boniface Ogbu Odeh, said the recruitment programme responded to one of the association’s longstanding demands—the absorption of qualified PTA teachers into the formal teaching system.

Odeh who doubles as Provost, College of Education, Oju, Benue State, said PTA teachers had for years supported teaching and learning across the country with little recognition, adding that the new recruitment pathway would give hope to thousands of educators while strengthening basic education.

According to him, the initiative demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to improving teacher welfare, creating jobs and supporting parents and communities.

He said the programme could help reduce classroom teacher shortages and ultimately improve the quality of learning for Nigerian children.

“By creating this pathway for qualified and passionate teachers, you have not only given hope to thousands of educators but have also strengthened the foundation of basic education in Nigeria,” Odeh said.

NAPTAN, however, urged the government to ensure that the recruitment exercise is transparent and merit-based, while calling for its extension to all states so that no qualified teacher is excluded.

The association pledged its continued partnership with the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Education, saying the recruitment programme showed that the government was listening to the concerns of parents and education stakeholders.