Lagos in dire need of teachers – NUT

The Lagos State wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers on Tuesday said over 1,000 primary school teachers had retired between June and July.

The state Chairman of the NUT, Segun Raheem, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that primary schools had an immediate need of teachers.

Raheem said: “History shows that the last time Lagos State recruited teachers was 14 years ago and between June and July 2015, over 1000 teachers have retired.

“Head teachers of schools have drafted non-teaching staff to assist in the classes and some have gone ahead for sandwich courses.

“Some of these teachers have gotten to their bar and if converted, they will have no financial obligation.

“It is a way of cushioning the effect of the dire need of teachers because teachers have maximised their strength to make up for the inadequacy.”

Raheem said three primary school teachers died within a month in the course of teaching in their classes.

He said: “A teacher, after teaching in the class, sat down and collapsed; the other slumped and died while writing on the chalk board.

“The third died at the assembly ground.

“This has been the fate of our teachers due to their being overused.

“It is having an adverse effect on their health.”

Raheem said in the past, teachers were being replaced in secondary schools to make up for vacant spaces, but in the last three years, it was not so.

He said: “About 3,000 secondary school teachers and 5,000 primary school teachers are needed.

“The union had written to the last administration in Lagos State on the emergency need for teachers, especially in primary schools.

“After the inauguration, we wrote to congratulate the government and reminded them on the need to take action quickly.

“We have also assisted government to compile the list of non-teaching staff that have upgraded themselves and need to be converted and sent to SUBEB.

“The governor has also been copied on the development for quick action.”

According to Raheem, the last administration had floated a Federal Teachers Scheme where teachers are employed on contract.

He said there was a pool of funds made available for states that needed teachers, which the Federal Government and the states contributed to.

He said: “We are reminding the state government to take advantage of the scheme and contract teachers for about 14 years as proposed by the scheme.

“Teachers can do what is within their purview.

“The death of the three teachers was attributed to the overuse of their strength.”

Raheem advised the state government to employ 5,000 teachers for primary schools and 3,000 teachers for secondary schools without further delay.

“The employment should not be political but should be on subject specialisation as needed in schools,” he said.

NAN.