FG Employs 1,000 English, Maths Teachers

Federal government has granted approval for the immediate employment of about 1, 000 teachers of Mathematics and English Language towards addressing the shortage of teachers in these critical subjects, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, minister of State for Education, has said.

The minister dropped the hint at the National Mathematical Centre, Sheda, Abuja while declaring open the ‘Batch One’ of a two-week capacity building workshop for Mathematics and English Language teachers in Federal Unity Colleges.

Wike warned the 144 participants of the workshop to justify government’s financial commitment to the project and directed the workshop facilitators to conduct an evaluation test at the end of the exercise which would serve as guide for the government as to who is fit to be retained as teachers in these subjects.

According to him, it would not be business as usual for both principals and teachers in Federal Unity Colleges, stressing that sentiments would not be entertained from any quarter in terms of posting and transfers in the colleges.

He maintained that the colleges must uphold their role as standard bearers for secondary education in Nigeria in line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Dr Mac John Nwaobiala, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, attributed the appalling performance of students in Mathematics and English Language partly to poor teaching methods; hence he described the workshop as a step in the right direction.

D. C. Uwaezuoke, director of Basic Education in the ministry, commended the minister for his trailblazing role in reintroducing training programmes for teachers, quoting some of the participants as saying that they never received such training in the last 15 years.