The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has said that Nigeria evidently faces substantial hurdles on the path to realising quality education.
Development Diaries reports that CHRICED, marking the World Teachers Day, noted that the shortage of teachers in Nigeria is a critical issue that hampers the country’s educational system.
‘Public schools, for the most part, present an abysmal learning environment, characterised by their sheer lack of suitability for effective learning’, it said in a statement.
‘Chronic absenteeism among teachers further exacerbates the grim situation. The meager remuneration they receive is yet another disheartening aspect of the profession, which often leaves them dispassionate and demotivated in their roles’.
Noting the challenges facing education in the country, CHIRCED said the discouraging realities of teachers and schools, among other things, cast a disappointing shadow over the teaching profession in Nigeria.
‘The ongoing challenges faced by Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions, characterized by frequent strikes and a range of systemic issues, which undermine the objectives of education are indeed a cause for concern’, it added.
‘These issues encompass underfunding, unfulfilled government agreements, inadequate infrastructure, low salaries, poor working conditions, limited teaching resources, insufficient research facilities, and diminished learning opportunities.
‘This multifaceted crisis has had a detrimental impact on the quality of education provided to students and has driven some educators to seek alternative career paths or opportunities abroad’.
In 2023, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) reported a registered teacher count of 2.3 million, showing that the distribution of teachers across different levels of education remains uneven, leaving some areas with significant shortages.
The situation of education in Nigeria is undeniably a source of embarrassment for the nation and reflects a failure on multiple levels.
Citizens must hold leaders accountable for the promises they make, and ensure that children have the opportunities and resources they need to succeed.
Photo source: Doug Linstedt
