The students of The President Height Schools (TPHS) have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the 36 state Governors to prioritize teachers welfare as a way of making the country’s education tower high among the rest of the world.
They lamented the low pay, lack of health insurance policy, low retirement benefits that accrue to teachers both at the public and private schools. They hinted that this is one of the reasons that the current generation believes that education is a scam and that the teaching profession cannot attract the best brains.
The school administrator, Abayomi Oyelami highlighted the importance of policy formulation and entrenching sustained efforts as a way to improve Nigeria’s education across all levels. He encouraged the schoolchildren to show interest in national issues and think of ways that they can participate in shaping and influencing policies for socioeconomic development.
His speech was followed by the school’s 65th commemorative Independence Anniversary plenary moderated by Amadi Samuel and Ajibade Peter with fellow students as speakers including Ene Favour, Emmanuella Balogun, Ene David, Marvelous Nwachukwu, Olowolafe Iyanu, Ajibade Naomi, David Anderson, Prince Monday, Hyacinth Testimony, Ugbo Samuel, and Ekundayo Aanuoluwapo.
The schoolchildren highlighted the importance of prioritizing teachers welfare citing that the teachers of today ought to be better than those of yesteryears because of the availability of cutting edge technology and other materials available. However, the teachers are demoralized due to low pay, lack of health insurance policy, low retirement benefits, and other incentives which could make them excited about the noble profession.
Many individuals are abandoning the profession for other lucrative businesses while those who stay are seeking greener pastures overseas through the current japa syndrome. Thus, teachers both at the public and private school are not giving their best.
Some teachers are rather found using abusive words, foul language, and resorting to search engines and AI tools like ChatGPT alone instead of reading books, researching relevant materials, and thinking how to bring the knowledge in a simple format for the children.
They also encouraged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the 36 state Governors to make the primary and secondary education free in order to reduce the burden of out-of-school children in the country.
‘Education development is a shared responsibility, we encourage parents to play their primary roles in raising their children rather than going out to register for special centers or aid exams malpractices, and teachers should continue to give their best, while the government makes education attractive for young people’, they concluded.