By Tanko Mohammed
The saying that the reward for teachers is in heaven no longer hold; it is now on earth following President Muhammadu Buhari’s package announced to mark World Teachers’ Day.
The President has approved the following for teachers in primary and secondary schools:
◾Special salary scale for basic and secondary school teachers
◾Increase of mandatory service year from 35 to 40.
◾Construction of low-cost houses for teachers in the rural areas
◾Special allowance for teachers in the rural areas
◾Peculiar allowance for science teachers
◾Automatic admission into public schools for biological children of teachers. They are also to enjoy free tuition
◾Automatic employment for Education graduates
◾Provision of loan facilities for agriculture, housing, cars, motorcycles, among others
In a speech read on his behalf at the celebration of the teachers’ Day by education minister Adamu Adamu, President Buhari ordered the implementation of the minimum wage for all teachers.
He reiterated the union’s call on relevant authorities to ensure that the 27.5 per cent professional allowance was paid to teachers of Federal Government-owned schools and colleges.
The theme of the celebration is “Teachers: Leading in Crisis, Reimagining the Future”.
Buhari ordered the Ministry of Education to ensure accelerated implementation of his directives in collaboration with states and local governments, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, the National Salaries, Incomes and Commission, and other relevant agencies.
He added that the approvals would help enthrone a culture of competence, discipline, dedication, increased learning outcomes, and better service delivery in the nation’s education sector.
Teachers have the power to shape and reshape the lives of young people and help learners to enhance their potential.
“A positive or negative influence of a teacher on any child will have an effect on that child. Therefore the Federal Government is ensuring quality education to access
“My administration has resolved that quality education of teachers in terms of engagement of continued professional development have to be given priority.
“The future of this country will be a function of the quality education delivered to our children today and this depends on the quality of our teachers and the quality of our teachers depend on the motivation and their motivation depends on how happy they are doing what they are doing.
“To address these challenges, my administration has approved the following for teachers and the teaching profession. That in order to attract investment in the teaching profession, the quality of the introduction of a bursary award has been restored.
“There will be a special pension scheme to enable the teaching profession retains its experienced talents as well as extend teachers retirement age to 65 years and the duration of teachers years to 40 years.
“ And that is to create a career path policy for the teaching profession in Nigeria and gives speedy teachers to programme and ICT training.
The President added that his administration had also approved the sponsorship of teachers to motivate and restore their lost glory and teaching in the country.
