NUT decries poor state of school infrastructure

October 05, 2012 17:58

NAN-H-93

Schools

Abuja, Oct. 5, 2012(NAN) The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) on Friday in Abuja decried the dilapidated condition of infrastructure in public primary and secondary schools nationwide.

The President of NUT, Mr Michael Alogba-Olukoya, said at the 2012 World Teachers’ Day celebration that the poor state of infrastructure impacted negatively on the performance of students.

``We wish to use this auspicious day to remind the government of Nigeria that our schools are still largely dilapidated and are unsuitable for conducive learning.

``Students do very well when they study in a conductive environment. It is a conductive school environment that makes a teacher to perform at his optimum.

``We, therefore, plead that drastic measures be taken to fix our schools if our education industry is to produce the expected results," he said.

The NUT president also said that teachers were among professions who had yet to enjoy a good salary structure.

 “Teachers are among the lowest paid professionals in most countries of the world, hence they are so down-trodden and unappreciated.

``It is a painful admission that the condition of teachers has not changed significantly compared with other professionals,”  Alogba-Olukoya said.

He said that no nation could grow above the level of its education the same way no educational enterprise could grow above teachers.

He called for the extension of retirement age of teachers from 60 years to 65 years for primary and secondary schools.

He, however, condemned the discrimination suffered by university graduates in primary schools in the civil service.

Alogba-Olukoya said whereas university graduates in other areas of the public service ended their careers on GL 17, those in primary schools ended on GL 14.

In his speech, the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, said the Federal Government was not unmindful of the challenges facing teachers.

``The Nigerian teachers are faced with some challenges bordering on the issue of welfare and training.

``We are aware that no country can achieve greatness without significant investment in the education sector.

``The attainment of the desired learning outcome cannot be achieved without quality education and qualified teachers,” he said.

Wike stressed the need for the training and retraining of teachers to check the fall in the standard of education. (NAN)

JAN/DUA/JCE

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