Teachers are life builders, catalysts for national development — Ambode

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos Statesays teachers are nation builders, change agents and catalysts for the realisation of any meaningful, functional and effective education delivery to drive national development.

Ambode made the assertion during the activities to mark the 2017 World Teachers’ Day Celebration in Lagos.

Our correspondent reports that the United Nations (UN) World Teachers’ Day is observed every Oct. 5, since 1994.

It is to celebrate the role of teachers in providing quality education at the local and global levels

The theme for this year’s celebration is: “Teaching in Freedom, Empowering Teachers’’.

Ambode, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, said that experience had shown that teachers performed better and contributed to national development when they were well-motivated.

“This is why this administration has continued to improve on the welfare and training of teachers as well has done infrastructure upgrades to ensure that they are motivated to achieve productivity.

“We have approved the promotion of primary school teachers to Grade Level 17 for them to be at par with their counterparts in the civil service.

“We have also approved the recruitment of additional 500 teachers to meet the population of our students and reduce workload on our teachers.

“Our administration will continue to consolidate on reforms initiated to adequately empower and reward our teachers.

“Teachers should not start enjoying the fruit of their labour only when they get to heaven, they must first earn and relish their rewards while here on earth,’’ he said.

Ambode urged teachers to see themselves as parents, advisers and counsellors to students to mold responsible adults.

He also urged them to continue to maintain the ethics of the profession.

Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, urged government at all levels to prioritise policies that could improve the education sector.

Tinubu also urged teachers to rededicate themselves to the service of the nation by mold and nurturing the country’s future leaders.

Also, Mr Michael Olukoya, National President of NUT, said that many teachers were faced with challenges as insecure school environment, inadequate training, poor remuneration, lack of promotion prospects and professional autonomy.

Olukoya, represented by Mrs Adebukola Kareem, Assistant Secretary, NUT Abuja, said that the challenges undermined the status of the teaching profession and the outcome of educational service delivery in the country.

He urged governments and employers of teachers to ensure that teachers were empowered, honoured, respected and valued.

“They should ensure the provision of decent working condition, professional autonomy, high quality training and continuous professional development and support,’’ he said.

Olukoya pledged that Nigerian teachers would continue to contribute their quota to the progress of the country.

Mr Adesegun Raheem, Chairman, NUT, Lagos State, commended Ambode for placing premium on education as a means of liberating the citizens from the shackles of ignorance.

“Our governor recognised education as a catalyst for human development which is why we have moved radically to the first line in public education result grading of the states,’’ he said.

Raheem urged the state government to recruit and retain more teachers to meet student’s population explosion.