Teachers, Children Resume School

By Damiete West

Education is the bedrock of development in any given society. Nations that do not take the education of their citizens seriously will, in no distant time, take back seats in global socio-economic development. Education brings scientific and technological advancement.

School children need a conducive environment for learning in order to assimilate what is being taught. An unhealthy teaching and learning environment causes retardation in the learning process among children. School buildings in most of the local government areas in Rivers State are dilapidated and calling for renovation.

Most public schools are understaffed, thereby employing unqualified teachers. In Nigeria, the minimum qualification for the teaching profession is the National Certificate of Education, NCE. Due to lack of employment, the school system has been flooded with non-professionals who have little or no knowledge of the methodology of education.

In this 21st century, pupils in public schools are sitting on the floor while learning, while teachers go to class without lesson notes and instructional materials. Most female teachers go to school and convert the classroom into petty business outlets, where they sell biscuits, sachet water, soft drinks, groundnut etc., and compel pupils to buy. This unprofessional attitude exhibited by these female staff shows a lack of efficient school supervision.

As teachers, with school children returning to the classroom for the 2025/2026 academic session, the relevant establishments should come out with fresh measures that will sanitize the school system to facilitate teaching and learning processes.