The Federal Government has called on stakeholders to further partner with it to boost the education sector, particularly the teaching profession.
The government noted that the professionalisation of teaching was a long-standing goal that had gained renewed momentum in recent years, hence the need for further collaboration with stakeholders.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, made the call at the 69th National Council on Education meeting held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Monday.
The event was themed ‘Quality Education Data and Professionalisation of Teaching: A Tool for Enhanced National Development’.
Enitan emphasised that teaching was not just a vocation but a noble profession that shaped the destiny of nations, deserving collective responsibility to improve it.
He said, ‘Our collective responsibility is to ensure that teachers are well-prepared, well-supported, and well-rewarded. Through the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, the Federal Government continues to enforce professional standards, ensuring that only qualified and certified teachers are allowed to practice.
‘Let me take this opportunity to commend state governments that have keyed into these initiatives by ensuring that teachers are duly registered and licensed, and by providing enabling environments for their continuous development.
‘The professionalisation of teaching must go hand in hand with improved working conditions and clear career pathways. A teacher who feels valued will in turn inspire students to value learning, and this is the chain of transformation that builds great nations.
‘The Federal Ministry of Education recognizes that the challenges of education cannot be solved in isolation. They require collaboration among all stakeholders — federal, state, and local governments, development partners, private sector actors, civil society, and the communities we serve.
‘The National Council on Education provides a unique forum for such collaboration. Here, we harmonize perspectives, review progress, and agree on policy directions that will guide implementation across the nation’.
While declaring the conference open, the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said the state would continue to align with the education policy reforms of the Federal Ministry of Education as it continues to pursue quality and accessible education.
Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Olayide Adelami, said, ‘The Ondo State Government under our administration has recorded significant strides in reshaping the educational landscape of the state in line with our Seven-Point Agenda, christened ‘OUR EASE’.
‘This policy thrust aligns with the resolutions of the National Council on Education and the Sustainable Development Goal 4, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all’.
