THE PLIGHT OF THE NIGERIAN TEACHER

The way people perceive teachers varies from one society and culture to the other. To the Jews, he is known as “Rabbi” (the great scholar) while Indians refer to him as “Brahman” (the esteemed one). In Athens, he is referred to as ‘prodigy’, that is, the most intelligent one in the community while in Rome; a teacher is a ‘pedagogo’, meaning a slave whose duty is to teach the young ones. Back home in Nigeria, it is believed in some quarters that teachers are generally wretched and miserly persons who measure yams with a ruler or foodstuff  such as garri (cassava flour), rice, beans, etc. so as to determine the quantity to be cooked. As evident in our society, teachers are usually sneered at for their not too comfortable and favourable social status. Worst still, while others readily get their own share of the national cake while still alive, teachers are to wait for their own reward in heaven!

The role of the teacher is multi-faceted, comprising academic, pedagogical and social roles. The academic role comprises teaching, counselling and supervisory roles. The pedagogical roles includes instructional, evaluation and facilitating roles. The teacher as a facilitator is involved on motivating pupils to learn, maintaining classroom and school control and creating a condusive environment for learning to take place. Social roles includes socializing activities which prepare students for the society's way of life. Other roles include reference roles, detective roles, parent surrogate, confidant and affectionate roles.

Thus, no other personality can have an influence more profound than that of a teacher. Students are in fact deeply affected by the teacher's love and affection, his character, his competence and his moral commitment. Most teachers become models for their pupils. They try to follow her manners, customs, etiquette, style of conversation e.t.c. . It should however be noted that during the early education of students, they tend to determine their aims in life and their future in consultation with their teachers. Therfore, a corrupt and decadent class of teachers can harm a nation more seriously than a class of corrupt and perverted judiciary, army, police, bureaucracy , politicians or technocrats. Hence, a corrupt and incompetent teacher is not only a bad individual but also the harbinger of a corrupt and incompetent generation and nation at large.

 A nation with corrupt teachers is a nation at risk, every coming day announces the advert of its approaching destruction.  The importance of a teacher as a catalyst to national development and as an architect of our future generations demand that only the best and most intelligent and competent members of our intelligentsia be allowed to qualify for this noble profession, bearing in mind that the quality of a nation cannot exceed the quality of its education system and its teachers.

A majority of Nigerian graduates are unemployable because of the inconsistencies and instability in the sector. We should not be abashed at this revelation. Since we have placed little value on our schools and teachers over the past decades, we should not expect anything different. It is an undeniable truth that education and national development are complementary. Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising that we are lagging behind in so many critical areas when compared with nations such as Singapore, India, Malaysia, Ghana, and Trinidad and Tobago, to mention but a few among nations with whom we attained political independence around the same time.

One area in which we have really erred in terms of our attitude towards education is in the gross neglect of teachers. No matter the level of investment in the sector, if we continue to treat teachers as some irrelevant bunch of people who don’t really matter, we won’t make much progress in any effort to reposition education. We need to pay close attention to the status of the teaching profession in the country. Universally, teaching is regarded as one of the oldest professions in the world. The main goal of teaching is to change the behaviour of the learner with a view to making him/her useful or productive member of the society. The central figure in teaching is, no doubt, the teacher.

In civilized and organized societies, teachers are well rated and usually respected as specialized professionals; on the same level as many other professions. In our clime, if we are to get the best out of teachers, we need to honor, celebrate and respect them.  The issue of proper remuneration for teachers is one that we must not really shy away from. A properly motivated teacher is definitely an asset to the society.

For us to redefine our perception of teachers and get the best out of them, we need to reflect on the message of Dr. Eric Williams, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, to the youth of his country at the country’s Independence Youth Rally in 1962. In his words at the occasion, Dr. Williams said, among others, that: “To your tender and loving hands the future of the nation is entrusted. In your innocent heart the pride of the nation is enshrined. On your scholastic development the salvation of the nation is dependent. When you return to your classes after independence, remember, therefore, each and every one of you, that you carry the future of Trinidad and Tobago in your school bags. We should all note that an educated nation is a liberated people.” How fitting!

It is important for teachers to see their vocation as a life-changing one that involves giving the nation a fulfilled and secured future. As a result, they need to be dedicated and committed towards giving the best to the all-round development of students and pupils entrusted in their care. They should make integrity, competence and excellence their watchword. Stakeholders in the education sector, private organizations and spirited individuals are equally enjoined to work as a virile team in order to uplift education in Nigeria to enviable pedestals.