Stakeholders advocate more support for Nigerian teachers 

Since the launch of United Nation’s World Teachers Day, 25 years ago, to galvanise global effort to help teachers, most of them are still without the support and training they need to succeed in their careers and impact meaningfully on learners.
These were the views of stakeholders who spoke with The Guardian in commemoration of the 2019 World Teachers Day, at Bridge International Academies, Lagos.

Specifically, they said for the country to witness great economic and human capital development, education managers across board must routinely train, mentor and support teachers.

Besides, proper and prompt remuneration, good incentives and motivations are also crucial.

In celebrating teachers, Bridge also launched the #TeachersTransformLives campaign, to raise awareness on how teachers can be well supported and developed to help children even in the most challenging places. 

Managing Director at Bridge Nigeria, Oladapo Olarinmoye said government at all levels, as well as education managers in both public and private settings, must regularly support and expose teachers to best practices in the interest of the pupils and the society.

He said: “Teachers play a significant role in shaping young people’s lives and the future of their countries so it’s the most important job in the world. Every teacher needs adequate support and professional development and many teachers are not getting that. The stakes for not doing this right could not be higher. That is why we are launching a new campaign to highlight the important work of teachers and how appropriate training and support can enable them to improve learning outcomes even in the most difficult environments.” 

The keynote speaker and Chief Executive Officer, Team Master Global, Rotimi Eyitayo, stated that when teachers have the right training and motivation, their potentials become performance. 

He, therefore, submitted that teachers should be properly remunerated and be given total support that will facilitate their development.

He also stressed the need to democratise the teaching profession so as to attract young and bright minds into the profession.

Academics Director at Bridge Nigeria, Rhoda Odigboh said, “Teachers can be more effective if they are equipped with the resources, techniques, and support designed to improve learning outcomes. We know how to deliver better teacher training and support leading to more effective classrooms. Unless governments and others take urgent action the UN Goal of quality education for all by 2030 looks very unlikely to be reached.”  

One of the teachers sharing stories of success and growth is Simon Ibitoye from Magbon, Badagry in Lagos who said despite being a teacher with over 15 years’ experience, it was after his extensive training on-the-job that he has been able to inspire his pupils to their full potentials. 

He said, “The teacher training that I have received has made me acknowledge the limits of my previous teaching methods. Previously, I would simply relay a set of information to my pupils and expect them to instantly understand what I had said without really engaging them. But now I have people around me to coach me, I have many resources that are just right for me and for the children, and I have regular feedback on my pedagogy. All this has made me a star teacher.”