Get basic qualification in two years or face dismissal, govt tells teachers

The Federal Government has handed down a fresh warning to all the teachers at all levels in the educational institutions in the country to have the required educational qualifications in two years or be prepared to lose their jobs.

While recently fielding questions from journalists at his private residence in Owerri, Imo State, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, noted that the existing law to that effect, which had been in place without enforcement would come into play after the two years moratorium is over. He directed those who have doctoral degrees and are teaching in their fields of endeavours to bring their ego low and take courses jointly designed by the National Teachers Registration Council (NTRC), the National Universities Commission (NUC), and Faculties of Education of various universities to undergo a Post-Doctoral Diploma in Education, while Senior lecturers and below should have at least a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) while efforts be made for refresher training after two to three years.

Anwuka also disclosed that the preparatory work on the recruitment of 500,000 teachers would soon be carried out, stating that NCE graduates would earn N30,000 monthly. He disclosed that the United Kingdom government and other donor agencies would assist the Federal Government to carry it out. He also said the government would recruit those who do not possess basic educational qualification to teach when it had exhausted those who have theirs, stating that they could only be deployed and be trained.

The minister said the Federal Government was placing emphasis on science, and technology-based education for skill acquisition, and stressed that polytechnics and colleges of education in the country were being encouraged to refocus on these.

The former Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University, Owerri, said, “This government must make sure that teaching ceases to be all-comers’ profession. There is an existing law in this country mandating the Teachers Registration Council to ensure that every teacher in this country, be it at tertiary, basic or secondary level, must have basic teaching qualification before getting into the classroom. All the while that law has not been enforced. This time around, it is going to be enforced. The government wants to add a two- year moratorium to anybody teaching in this country, be it at the university level, be it polytechnic, be it teachers, training colleges or secondary, primary or nursery, you must possess a teaching qualification to be in the classroom.

“In teaching, we are saying enough of that. That must stop. Within the next two years, if you don’t have basic qualification, requirement or exposure of teaching then you have to find something else to do. Everybody escapes into teaching and covers up. No!

“We want to streamline and perfect what particularly goes on in the teaching profession. We must get it right in this country”.