Ahead of the 2015 World Teachers’ Day celebration coming up on October 5, 2015, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala has inaugurated a Ministerial Planning Committee with a charge to organize a world-class award programme befitting the true status of the Nigerian teacher.
Performing the inauguration ceremony at the Ministry on Monday, August 03, 2015, Nwaobiala stressed that the Committee has enough time to plan, including soliciting for financial support from the private sector, to ensure that teachers are not presented with just any kind of award.
“I don’t believe that teachers’ reward is in heaven. I believe the best teacher in Nigeria should not be rewarded with a car that is less in the class of the latest Toyota Camry,” he said; adding that President Muhammadu Buhari reiterated serious concern for teachers’ welfare and development.
The Permanent Secretary announced his impending retirement from the Civil Service, but assured that even in retirement he would continue to pursue some of the agenda considered to be important to the development of the sector.
Chairman of the Planning Committee and Director of Education Support Services, Mrs. Justina Ibe, assured that every effort would be made to ensure successful celebration with appropriate reward for deserving teachers.
She said that KIA Picanto car was used as star prize for the best teacher during the previous events, which she noted was not commensurate with the status of ‘a best Nigerian teacher.’
Representative of the Nigeria Union of Teachers on the committee, Comrade Kabiru Matazu said that the Union would cherish that the Nigerian teacher is accorded his rightful position in the scheme of things.
He noted with mixed- feelings, the retirement of the Permanent Secretary saying that his wise counsels would be greatly missed.
Other members of the Committee are drawn from relevant parastatals of the Ministry, International Organizations and other stakeholders.
The theme of this year celebration is ‘Empowering Teachers, Building Sustainable Societies.’
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