The Federal Government has restated its commitment to revamping Nigeria’s education sector through the recruitment of 500,000 teachers into the basic education sector across the country.
The Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu, made the disclosure at the launch of the 2015 teacher development training programme in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
He said that the Federal Government places a high premium on the training of teachers and education managers at the basic level.
The Minister decried the inability of some state governments and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) to promptly access matching grants and other non-conditional grants from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
He also expressed worry at the huge gap between the number of teachers required and the current number available in the basic education sector.
The Minister stated that the total number of teachers needed to strengthen the basic education sector was 1.3 million in six years.
He expressed hope that the teachers’ recruitment would no doubt fast-track the revamping process, especially with the cooperation of state universal education boards.
In their remarks, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and the President of The Albino Foundation, Mr Jake Epelle, called for the continuous training of teachers.
An education specialist from the World Bank, Mr Afebayo Solomon, pledged support for the development of basic education in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Dikko Suleiman, on his part, highlighted government’s efforts in revamping the education sector.