THE Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State Wing has urged the Lagos State Government to recruit teachers regularly to fill the vacuum left by retired teachers.

Mr Segun Raheem, the Union Chairman told the News of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday that only regular recruitment would address the shortage of teachers in public schools.

Raheem commended Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for his timely intervention, with the recent approval for the recruitment of 2,200 teachers in  primary and secondary schools.

He expressed the union’s appreciation for the efforts of the governor in improving the education sector despite the paucity of funds.

The NUT chairman, however, said that though the addition of 2,200 teachers would cushion the shortage of teachers confronting the education system in the state, the system needed more teachers.

Raheem said that many senior teachers were retiring from the civil service and they needed to be replaced regularly.

“I commend the effort of the government because when some state governments are retrenching, Lagos State Government is recruiting.

“NUT wants the government to see the recruitment as a beginning process of filling vacancies,’’ he said.

Raheem advised the government that the recruitment exercise should be done regularly, because teachers are retiring, thus creating vacancies all the time.

He said that about 600 Yoruba teachers were needed for the implementation of the law recently enacted to make the teaching of Yoruba language compulsory in schools.

The union chairman said that the introduction of History by the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) in the 2018/2019 academic session in primary and junior secondary schools would also require more teachers.

“The 1200 teachers for secondary schools is not enough, looking at the latest development.

“We need about 600 Yoruba teachers and same for History.’’

Speaking on holiday coaching, Raheem urged parents to allow their wards to relax and get refreshed ahead of the new academic session. (NAN)

– Aug. 13, 2018 @ 16:05 GMT |