By Maria Famakinwa

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The plan by United Kingdom to start employing qualified Nigerian teachers from February next year has started generating ripples among concerned Nigerians. They fear that if nothing is done to address the issue, mass exodus of teachers will soon be witnessed like what obtains among medical personnel.

However, mixed feelings are trailing the development as some critical stakeholders opined that the UK is only looking for cheap labour to employ, while others said the development should not be seen as another type of brain drain. Teachers play essential roles in education, most especially in the lives of their students. Teachers don’t only teach, they act as alternative parents to students. They counsel, mentor and correct students when they need to. Their roles are so important that every profession must pass through them. Teachers are important because they change lives, inspire dreams, and push the limits of human potential. Little wonder the saying that no nation can develop above the quality of its teachers. Some stakeholders in the education sector spoke with The Hope on this development.

In the words of Ondo State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Comrade Victor Oladele Amoko, the solution lies with the government to either encourage teachers to take up the UK employments or give them better remuneration.

The NUT boss who explained that almost all the states in the country experience  shortage of teachers, opined that if the government thinks that exodus of teachers would affect them, they ought to have better welfare packages for them in order to salvage the education sector instead of looking for immediate gains from the sector.

His words: “We have qualified, well trained teachers who are still jobless. If teachers in this category get better offer from the UK or other European countries, I cannot prevent them from going because they have dependants and must live good life. As we speak, some state governors are yet to implement the minimum wage for teachers despite the fact that it is not enough when compared with the rigorous task of teaching. Teachers are not being appreciated in Nigeria. Most of those employed are underpaid and unable to meet their basic needs. If there is a way their living conditions can improve, I cannot discourage them.

“Before the UK can ask Nigerian teachers to come, they must have made their findings and realized that most qualified teachers in Nigeria are unemployed. It is left for the government to take urgent steps against this move because it will further affect the already fragile education system in the country. Government should not forget that the level of the country’s growth can only be measured by the quality of its teachers. If government is ready to halt this move, they should treat teachers like heroes. If their welfare are prioritize, they will stay,” he said.

A proprietor of a private school, Mr Adebola Ogunsakin who described teachers as the most important members of any society, added that  they give children purpose, set them up for success as global citizens and inculcate in them a drive to do well and make it in life.

Mr Ogunsakin who further said that teachers’ efforts cannot be quantified, wondered why they are treated like second class citizens in the country. The man who noted that the idea by UK government to employ Nigeria teachers was a welcome development, added that it will go a long way to teach Nigeria government how important teachers are to any country’s development.

He said: “The news that UK government wants to start employing qualified Nigerian teachers from next year came as a relief to me. It will go a long way to teach Nigeria government sense. Over the years, Nigerian teachers have been relegated and treated like paupers. In the last national honour that was held in Abuja by President Muhammadu Buhari, how many teachers were honoured? This is the time God wants to honour Nigerian teachers through the offer by UK government and nothing should stop it . We no longer want our rewards in heaven; we want to enjoy it on earth. Those who are qualified should go so that Nigeria government can wake up from slumber and give teachers their accorded respect.”

Sharing a similar view, another teacher, Mrs Morenike Olawumi, bemoaned how government have been treating teachers like a second class citizens and warned that the country’s education system might collapsed  if nothing is done urgently by way of motivation to prevent mass exodus of the country’s teachers to UK.

She said: “Teachers are human beings with needs and wants. In fact, being a repository of knowledge, they are special breeds who deserve not only respect, prestige and care but also a living wage and more. Teaching is not a curse, it is a noble profession. Teachers are dedicated citizens giving their best to the society. Reward-in-heaven as the opium of the teachers should be de-emphasized and care for our needs if teachers are to be encouraged.

“I foresee looming danger in the education sector if nothing is done by the Federal Government to prevent teachers migrating to UK next year for greener pastures. Teachers should no longer be heard going on strike due to irregular payment of their salaries that is not even enough when compared to the service they render.

“The way the society treats teachers is not encouraging. Most graduates take up teaching jobs. The government and the society look down on teachers who should be accorded due respect. Every scholar passes through teacher ,yet most teachers find it hard to meet basic needs of life.It is unacceptable that teachers have to resort to strikes to get what is due for them. Delay in the payment of teachers’ salaries is a demonstration that their efforts are not being appreciated.

“The worst part of this pathetic situation is that government at all levels treat teachers with utmost disdain and contempt whenever teachers clamour for a just and equitable package, despite the fact that for the country to make any meaningful progress, education as a means of human resource development must be adequately taken care of as a matter of top priority. To be sincere, some of my colleagues are ready to move. They want to go to where they will be better remunerated. This is my fear for our education system because when there is no teacher, the whole system will fail.