Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The prompt intervention in the educational sector of Taraba State has led to the naming the Governor Kefas Agbu as number one Teacher in the state.
The Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools ASUSS, Comrade Sule Abasu stated this during the World Teachers Day celebration in Jalingo.
“We remain indebted to your administration’s determination to overhaul the education sector of the state.
“This policy has undoubtedly put smiles on the hitherto derailing faces of parents in the past in ensuring that every child is educated by providing free education at basic level and partly tertiary levels.
“As critical stakeholders, we want to assure you of our unflinching support to ensure that this people – oriented government succeed not only on its free education bid.
According to him, security, peace and unity, economy and job creation, health care as well as women and youth empowerment are should be given priority.
He retreated the Union commitment to the lofty objectives of Governor Kefas Agbu’s people oriented government especially as it affects education in the state.
“Permit me to say that we as Teachers are available, stronger and viable together to implement any duty that may be assigned to us to facilitate the endearing education policy.
He said that ASUSS ran one of the robust Multipurpose Cooperative Society in the state, aimed at giving Teachers succour in terms of pecuniary support to meet certain financial demands and pressures while in service and at retirement they get back their savings before the government response come to them.
“So far, over 500 Teachers have benefited from this program.
“The Union have been instrumental in the issuance of permanent appointment to over Three thousand Teachers by the immediate past administration. It is what we do and will continue to do for our Teachers to actuallize the free education policy of the present administration of Governor Kefas Agbu.
The Chairman disclose that the Union has been supporting Girl Child education through the payment of school fees of 15 out of them in various schools in the state.
“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to the number one Teacher, Governor Kefas Agbu to consider Teachers in his palliative care rolled out for the state.
“Most Teachers are engaged in the rural areas, they need fertilizer, herbicides, tractors and Agricultural inputs to enable them and their students participate in farming activities to boost food production.
He enumerated the needs of Teachers in the state to include, encourage the training and re – training of Teachers for the development of schools, appointment of security and cleaners to man and clean schools, shortage of Teachers in some key areas such as Science, Languages, difficult areas and duty post to minimize brain drain in schools.
He applauded Governor Kefas Agbu for taking the burden of education off the shoulders of most parents.
“Let me express our heartfelt appreciation for his concern over the plight of Teachers and his promise to reward them – he said.
Speaking, the Guest Speaker, the Dean, Faculty of Education, Taraba State University, Dr. Ahmad Baba Muhammad discribe teachers as the most luckiest people in the world.
“Count yourselves as the most luckiest people in the world, because of the profession you are into.
“The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage.”
According to him, if the world where every child and every adult have access to quality education, regardless of location, background, or circumstances.
“Imagine a world where education fosters global citizenship, critical thinking, creativity, and lifelong learning, preparing us to face the complex and interconnected challenges of the 21st century. Imagine a world where teachers are qualified and competent but also visionary and transformative, inspiring and empowering learners and collaborating and innovating with others. This is the world we dream of, and this is the world we can achieve.
He said that according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), “More than 260 million children and youth are out of school, and many more are in school but not learning.” This staggering number reflects the impact and urgency of the teacher shortage, which is one of the most serious obstacles to achieving quality education for all. Various factors, such as low recruitment, high attrition, uneven distribution, poor quality, and low status of the teaching profession, cause the teacher shortage.
In his remarks, Governor Kefas Agbu represented by the Head of Service Suzi Nathan urge teachers to cherish themselves and be proud of their profession, pointed out that the problem been experience in the state is due to lack of education in the children.