Nigerian Teachers and Students Suffer from Insecurity – NUT President

• NUT President Audu Titus Amba emphasized the severe impact of insecurity on Nigeria’s education system during the 2024 World Teachers Day celebration
• Amba highlighted the critical shortage of teachers in public schools, urging increased government investment to improve education quality and access

The National President of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Audu Titus Amba, has highlighted the severe impact of insecurity on Nigeria’s education system.

Speaking at the 2024 World Teachers Day celebration in Abuja, Amba urged Federal and State governments to take stronger action to protect schools.

He stressed that ensuring the safety of students, teachers, and school staff is essential for providing free and unhindered access to education, a fundamental right for all children and youth.

This year’s celebration, “Valuing Teachers’ Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education,” emphasized the urgent need to address these issues.

Amba noted that teachers, students, and education workers have been victims of various security threats, including terrorist attacks, kidnappings by bandits, gender-based violence in schools, and natural disasters like pandemics and floods.

These issues have disrupted the teaching and learning environment in schools across Nigeria.

He also called on governments at all levels to invest more in education to tackle these challenges. Amba pointed out that the current budget allocation for education in Nigeria is far below the internationally recommended benchmarks of at least 6% of the GDP or 20% of the national budget.

One pressing concern raised by Amba is the critical shortage of teachers in public schools. According to a 2024 survey by UBEC, there is a shortfall of 194,876 teachers in public primary schools nationwide.

Some schools are severely understaffed, with only one or two teachers managing an entire school. This leaves students facing significant learning gaps and an uncertain future.

Amba urged the government to invest in well-trained and well-supported teachers to improve the quality and sustainability of the education system.

He emphasized the importance of ensuring that every student has access to a qualified teacher, as this is crucial for the success of education in the country.