As Nigeria commemorates World Teachers’ Day, the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for significant improvements in the welfare and working conditions of teachers across the state.
In a statement released on Saturday in Abeokuta, the state capital, the PDP under the leadership of Hon. (Dr.) Sikirulai Ogundele emphasised the critical need to enhance the quality of life and professional environment for educators, stressing that this is essential for the advancement of Nigeria’s educational system.
The statement, signed by the PDP’s State Publicity Secretary, Austin Oniyokor, acknowledged the global theme for the 2024 Teachers’ Day celebration, “Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education.”
Ogundele described the theme as timely, urging stakeholders at all levels to take decisive steps towards recognizing and addressing the challenges teachers face.
“There is no better way to demonstrate our appreciation for teachers’ contributions to national growth than by committing ourselves to ensuring improved welfare and providing a safer, more conducive work environment for them,” Ogundele said.
“We must move beyond empty rhetoric and genuinely involve teachers in shaping educational policies and practices.
“The PDP also highlighted the achievements of the party’s previous administrations at the federal level, recalling how efforts to improve education during their tenure led to positive outcomes.
According to the party, significant milestones were achieved through increased budgetary allocations to education, prioritising teachers’ welfare, and creating institutional structures like the Universal Basic Education (UBE) in 1999 and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) in 2011.
These initiatives, they said, laid the groundwork for the modest progress seen in the education sector today.
The PDP lamented, however, that despite these efforts, teachers in Ogun State and across Nigeria continue to face numerous challenges, ranging from inadequate pay to poor working conditions.
The party called on the current administration, both at the state and federal levels, to build upon the foundation laid by previous PDP governments by addressing these pressing issues.
In its statement, the Ogun PDP urged policymakers and government officials to actively engage teachers in the decision-making process.
“No one knows where the shoe pinches but the one who wears it,” the party said, emphasising that teachers, as the professionals on the front lines of education, are best positioned to provide valuable insights into policy design and implementation.
The party also appealed to the private sector and other stakeholders to collaborate with the government and education-focused development partners to restore the teaching profession’s lost glory.
It encouraged philanthropists, businesses, and non-governmental organizations to support initiatives aimed at uplifting the status of teachers and enhancing the education sector’s overall performance.
As the 2024 Teachers’ Day is celebrated under the theme of valuing teacher voices, the Ogun PDP’s call for improved welfare and better working conditions for teachers stands as a reminder that more needs to be done to ensure the prosperity of the nation’s educators.
By prioritizing teachers’ needs, the party argues, Nigeria can foster a stronger educational system capable of meeting the demands of the 21st century.
‘Teacher Involvement Key to Shaping Educational Policies’ ‘Beyond improving welfare, the PDP stressed the importance of involving teachers in shaping the policies that directly impact their profession.
The party suggested that engaging teachers in meaningful dialogue would ensure that their concerns and ideas are reflected in decisions that influence the classroom environment and the broader education sector.
The Ogun PDP concluded by reaffirming its commitment to advocating for the rights and welfare of teachers, urging the public to recognize the indispensable role educators play in society.
The statement also reiterated the party’s belief that improving teachers’ welfare is crucial to building a more prosperous and educated Nigeria.
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