- The Federal Government announced the plan to recruit 3,500 new teaching staff to improve educational quality
- The government further revealed it trained over 1,000 workers, and constructed 53 vocational centres to meet the skills demands of youth
- An additional 50 model schools across the country have been approved according to Dr Yusuf Sununu, the Minister of State for Education
The Federal Government has revealed plans to recruit 3,500 new teaching staff for Federal Unity Colleges across the country.
Dr Yusuf Sununu, the Minister of State for Education, announced this at a two-day National Stakeholders’ Forum on Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria.
Sununu said, “I assure you that the Ministry is collaborating with the Office of the Head of Service, the Federal Civil Service Commission, and other relevant government organs to recruit 3,500 teaching staff for our federal government colleges nationwide.”
Key documents launched at the event
The forum, themed, “Revitalising Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria for Global Competitiveness” brought together education stakeholders to deliberate on the obstacles confronting secondary education in the country.
The event saw the launch of key documents, including the Manual for Monitoring and Evaluation of Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria 2024, the National Secondary School Education Commission (NSSEC) Strategic Plan (NSSECSP) for the period 2024–2027, the National Policy on Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria, and the Training Manuals for Senior Secondary School teachers of English Language and Mathematics.
Teachers recruitment, training to improve quality
Sununu said the hiring of the teachers is aimed at improving the quality of education.
“This will enhance the quality of education. Additionally, the Ministry has organised extensive training and retraining for all staff in schools”, Sununu stated.
As part of his remarks, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, called for a thorough reform of the senior secondary curriculum to better compete on the global stage.
Addressing the challenges in senior secondary education, Abbas, represented by Rep. Mark Usani, Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Services, noted problems such as a deficiency in qualified teachers, funding issues, and insufficient infrastructure.
Over 1000 staff equipped, 53 vocational centres constructed
Sununu further revealed that the ministry had equipped over 1,000 staff with training in educational technology through its research resource centre. He also mentioned that more than 53 vocational skills acquisition centres had been constructed to meet the skills demands of youth, reflecting President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
Dr Iyela Ajayi, Executive Secretary of NSSEC, emphasised the necessity for stakeholders to actively support and take charge of the national policy on senior secondary education and its implementation procedures.
Ajayi said, “The federal government alone cannot succeed in repositioning senior secondary education.
“We must mobilise all relevant stakeholders, including state governments, NGOs, development partners, educationalists, and those concerned about education.
“We need to bring them together to brainstorm, identify problems, and provide solutions.”
Sununu also mentioned that approval had been given for the establishment of an additional 50 model schools across the country to bolster teaching and learning.
“The ability to revitalise the senior secondary education sub-sector to meet global demands requires key actions that optimise the system.
“Today marks a significant step in our journey to enhance the quality of education for our young learners.
“Senior secondary education is a critical phase, shaping the future of our learners and, by extension, our nation.
“This explains our efforts in ensuring that our education system is robust, dynamic, and capable of meeting global standards,” he added.
We have returned 4 million out-of-school children to the classroom, Education Minister Mamman says
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Professor Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, disclosed that the Federal Government returned four million out-of-school children to their classrooms through the DOTS initiative.
He remarked that universities are essential for the growth of both the nation and industry. However, the current level of collaboration between tertiary institutions and universities is still insufficient.