The current state of basic education in Nigeria is concerning, primarily due to a significant shortage of teachers. Key points include:
- Teacher Shortage: According to a personnel audit by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Nigeria needs an additional 194,876 teachers to adequately meet the demands at the basic education level.
- Government Response: The issue is exacerbated by the government’s reluctance to recruit new teachers to replace those who are retiring. Recently, the Oyo State Government began recruiting 7,000 new teachers to address this gap, but many other states and the Federal Government are still struggling to fill vacancies.
- Reliance on PTA Teachers: In many schools, the shortage of qualified teachers has led to the employment of Parent Teacher Association (PTA) teachers as a temporary solution.
- Misuse of Funds: Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, criticized state governments for not prioritizing teachers’ professional development, despite receiving 10% of UBEC grants intended for this purpose. He highlighted that even the funds allocated for instructional materials and professional development are often misused.
- Workforce Attrition: The country has lost over 30% of its teaching workforce in the past three years due to retirements and departures without adequate replacements.
- Call for Action: The situation calls for urgent action from both federal and state governments to address the shortage, ensure proper allocation and utilization of funds, and prioritize the recruitment and training of new teachers.
The ongoing issues highlight the need for comprehensive strategies to strengthen the basic education sector and improve the quality of teaching across Nigeria.
