Teachers’ Day in Retrospect

There is a wide belief that a teacher is a person who imparts knowledge. Knowledge on the other hand is said to be awareness of what is happening in our environment. This definition is said to have a wide acceptance.

If the scripture is anything to go by, we can also say that knowledge is a priceless and inestimable phenomenon that is so wide and that it cannot easily be monopolized, completely possessed and controlled by a person, group even the whole wide world.

Man has tried to acquire knowledge from the beginning of the world till date, yet he has not exhausted it.

It is on record in the scripture that the first man on earth, Adam in his quest for knowledge ended up disobeying God. This singular act has brought death to mankind till date.

Some early philosophers like Socrates, Plato down to Adam Smith tried to acquire as much knowledge as possible yet could not gain it all.

The Bible also says that King Solomon of Israel went through what may be regarded today as his scale of preference, he did not consider any other thing more important to request from the Creator than wisdom which is regarded today as knowledge or education.

But alas! People who have taken it as a profession are considered in different quarters as idle minds, hopeless or never-do-wells. They deserve no reward on earth but in heaven, that is, if the teacher is able to scale through the hurdle of life and meet the heavenly requirements for it. What a pity? This gives room for sober reflection of what could have placed teachers in this condition.

Some reasons are being given by feelers such as; it is the last resort if a school leaver or job loser cannot get any job.

The above reasons could not hold water as banking  with some other professions for instance, does not suffer neglect, rather it commands more respect no matter the kind of assignment carried out by any bank worker or professional bankers.

Some schools do not have the instructional materials or facilities for teaching. Is that the fault of the teachers?

Graduates from other disciplines are required to go for post-graduate training in education before they are allowed to teach, yet teachers still suffer this obnoxious fate.

Some people argue that teachers suffer as a result of fall in the standard of education. Drop in the academic standard (if any) is attributable to  corruption, neglect and other social malaise which have affected every facet of our national life. There are lapses everywhere, not only in education.

Teachers should not be used as scape-goats for the circumstances we find ourselves.

The profession has suffered a lot of neglect. In the private sector their salaries are nothing to write home about. A graduate teacher is priced as low as eighteen thousand naira (N18,000.00) per month. He is required to teach for a minimum of five periods about four hours approximately per day and close at 4.00 p.m.

Most annoying is that some of them do not pay regularly. The students are untouchables. They have control over the teachers, not teachers having control over them. The students with their parents tell teachers to their faces that they cannot discipline them. If they (teachers) do, their appointments  will be terminated  by the owners of the school based on their instruction.

Some school owners (proprietors) response to teachers complaints is that there are many graduate-teachers out there that can take over if the teacher is no more interested and that they can resign if they wish. Teachers are treated like casual or menial workers.

It is high time the education sector and the plight of teachers were considered for improvement and especially  teachers should be rewarded adequately if not for any reason for them to enjoy the respect their students give to other professionals. Students sing it in form of song to their teachers face that they do not want to be teachers.

The public sector does not help matters. Teachers are owed salaries for months. They are seen as the last professional that should be considered for any public office or assignment.

Teachers should not be seen solely as heavenly beneficiaries as every professional has a stake to it provided he meets the requirements. Let the wind of change be allowed to reach the profession called teaching.

The time is now.

Wishing  teachers a rewarding  and respectable career.

Chiemela N. Agu

Chimrose Educational Consultancy and General Services,

Nigeria Air Force Shopping Complex

Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island

Lagos, Nigeria.

Chibagalia@gmail.com ,  GSM: 08035733017