For President Muhammadu Buhari, the teachers’ reward should be here on earth, and in Heaven, for those who make it there. He has approved 13 bumper benefits for teachers in public schools that include a special salary scale and increased years of service for educators from 35 to 40.
The new development comes as many Nigerians continued to pay the regular tributes to teachers on their day.
One of such is the Chairman North Central Governors Forum, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State, hailed the resilience of teachers as they celebrate the “World Teacher’s Day”.
A list of of all the pluses posted on social media, but which have not been officially confirmed are:
1. Establishment of a Special Salary Scale.
2. Retirement by age is now 65.
3. Retirement by service is now 40.
4. Rural allowance to be provided.
5. Increase in science allowance.
6. Peculiar allowance.
7. Automatic admission and tuition free for kids of Teachers at their place of work.
8. Automatic recruitments of B.Ed graduating students.
9. Bachelor of Education students are to enjoy stipends or education special allowance.
10. Education students in colleges and universities are to enjoy special bursary awards.
11. TETFund will now be used to fund Teaching Practices.
12. Enhanced entry for graduating students into service.
13. Special Teachers Pension Scheme to be established.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, announced on Monday the Presdent’s new plans for teachers in a speech delivered in commemoration of World Teacher’s Day.
Mr. Adamu stated that the gesture is aimed at encouraging teachers to give their best.
According to the minister, President Buhari also increased the number of service years for teachers from 35 to 40.
Governor Sani Bello said teachers are the bedrock of a society and the custodians of education and assured of his continuous premium support to teachers in the state.
The Governor said that the education sector still remains one of his administration’s top priority, adding that his administration will continue to provide a conducive environment that will enable the teachers to impact knowledge on the pupils and students.
The Governor maintained the welfare of the teachers was sacrosanct to him, and his administration will not hesitate to support them giving the fact that reward and contribution of teachers’ welfare and development should be regarded as very important .
He bemoaned the situation where teachers were not accorded the respect due them, as he pledged that his administration has since commenced changing the narrative.
While Acknowledging the teaching Profession as a noble and aged-long profession, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello appealed to them to ensure that quarks finding their way into the profession are shown the way out.
In Abuja, the Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has congratulated all the teachers in the FCT on the celebration of the 2020 edition of the World Teachers Day held on Monday, 5th October 2020.
Malam Bello also used the occasion to reiterate the commitment of the FCT Administration to the development of the education sector and the improvement of the welfare of FCT teachers.
Malam Bello said “Education is the bedrock of society and no nation desirous of progress and development can afford to ignore the education sector”
He continued “We remain committed to the development of education in all its ramifications in the FCT and we will continue to commit time and resources to ensure that the sector meets up with the expectations of residents of the FCT.
While commenting on the importance of teachers in the society, Malam Bello said that the quality of a nation’s educational system is largely only as good as the quality of its teachers. He therefore charged FCT teachers to renew their commitment to duty especially now that schools are getting set to re-open after the long forced closure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said that the FCT Administration will continue to pay a lot of attention to the welfare of teachers as well as their professional training.
In his words “we remain committed to the improvement of the welfare of our teachers and recognize that constant professional training will ensure that they give their best in the discharge of their duties. A teacher cannot impart knowledge that he or she does not have. Training is therefore very essential.”
The FCT Minister also commended the efforts of Ms Omoregbe Doreen Osarobo of JSS Gwagwalada who was declared the 5th best junior public school teacher in the country during the World Teachers’ Day ceremony.
He said that her recognition was a testament to the hard work and dedication of FCT school teachers who have always impressed on the national stage.
The Minister also called on the various school administrators to ensure that they maintain the high educational standards that FCT public schools are known for.