World Teachers’ Day: ERC calls for N200k minimum wage for Nigerian teachers
In commemoration of the year 2023 World Teachers' Day (WTD), the Education Rights Campaign (ERC) has raised its voice in advocating for a minimum wage of N200,000 for Nigerian teachers in both public and private schools.
ERC salutes Nigerian teachers; advocating for improved working conditions and an end to public education underfunding and commercialization which it said, is pricing education out of the reach of children from poor backgrounds.
It also emphasized the importance of providing adequate teaching staff, well-equipped classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and functional facilities to enhance the quality of education in public schools.
The aim, it says, is to make these public institutions a more attractive option for working-class and middle-class families, reducing the dependence on private schools.
ERC was formed by the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) in 2004 to campaign for the provision of a free, functional and democratically-managed education. It campaigns against fee hikes, poor studying and living conditions among others.
According to a joint statement by ERC's Deputy National Coordinator, Isaac Ogunjimi, and National Mobilization Officer, Adaramoye Michael Lenin; Nigerian teachers are the most poorly paid category of the working population; adding that public school teachers, in particular, face a host of challenges, including overcrowded classrooms, dilapidated infrastructure, and hazardous working conditions.
Nigerian teachers, both in public and private institutions, currently face severe challenges, which include: overcrowded classrooms, deteriorating infrastructure, and perilous working conditions among others.
The ERC also raised alarm over the alarming number of teachers who have been adversely affected by insecurity, with statistics from the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) indicating over 2,295 teachers killed, 19,000 displaced, and 910 schools damaged or destroyed in the North East between 2009 and 2022, primarily due to the Boko Haram insurgency.
The statement further highlights the struggles faced by the families left behind, grappling with poverty and a lack of provisions for occupational and environmental hazards.
Additionally, ERC pointed out that private school teachers endure dire conditions, often earning less than the N30,000 minimum wage, despite the huge fees charged by the schools.
It added that proprietors also reportedly prevent teachers from joining the Private School Teachers Union of Nigeria (PRISCTUN) to evade demands for better conditions.
While ERC decried the failure of successive anti-poor capitalist governments in Nigeria to adequately support teachers while expecting them to deliver quality education and improved educational outcomes; it asserts that teachers, who are the knowledge producers, are the lifeblood of any successful educational system.
As World Teachers' Day provides an opportune moment to reflect on the vital role of educators, the ERC calls on the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) to recognize the right to independent trade unionism.
This recognition, it says, would allow teachers in their employ to freely exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to join PRISCTUN without fear of victimization.
Furthermore, the ERC urged the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to openly support PRISCTUN and collaborate to strengthen the union's capacity to advocate for the interests of private school teachers.
In the same vein, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) acknowledged the invaluable contributions of teachers to both the academic world and the broader society.
The national president of NAPPS, Chief Yomi Otubela, emphasized the need for comprehensive support for teachers, including psychological support, mental wellness, job security, fair remuneration, and technological assistance.
He called on government at all levels, school owners, and administrators to ensure secure learning environments that promote effective education.
“World Teachers' Day provides a unique opportunity to appreciate our esteemed teachers for their immense contribution to the growth and development of the education sector. As we celebrate the virtues and heroic qualities of our teachers, I would like to thank all teachers for their support, diligence, and dedication to the teaching profession,” he said.
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