Absurdity Of Celebrating World Teachers Day In Nigeria Amidst ASUU Strike -By Isaac Asabor

There is no denying the fact that not a few leaders today would have been seen by Nigerians sounding rhetorical about what they have achieved so far in terms of contributions made toward educational development as the world is today celebrating World Teachers Day.

In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to guesstimate that some of them might have turned their secretariats and offices into mini-political rallies as they would be seen clinking glasses and resorting to self-praises and obsequiously praising teachers to high heavens.  Notwithstanding the fact that they have practically neglected the teachers, they would paradoxically be seen enthralled in joie de vivre, amidst backslapping, and telling lies about how they have helped teachers and massively contributed to the development of the educational sector of the economy.

But alas! Our leaders have from one political dispensation to another notoriously neglected teachers across all tiers of education forgetting that the teachers made them become the “Big-men” they are today. Paradoxically, not only have these unappreciative leaders belittled the importance of teachers in our today’s society, they have myopically been seeing their collective and productive contributions as inconsequential to the overall growth of the country. Despite the fact that education is so fundamental and critical to nation-building, it appears as if our leaders have physiologically been wired to be seeing teachers across the three tiers of education as sub-humans. 

To buttress the foregoing view, it is expedient to say in this context that the President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) Mohammed Ibrahim, aptly captured the collective perception of our leaders towards teachers, and went on to accuse the federal government, during the 2022 May Day celebration in Abuja, of focusing on frivolous things and neglecting the education sector and the youths, and even added that the universities were forced to shut down due to the government’s insincerity. As if that was not enough, he explained that the standard of education has continued to go down.

He stated, “Our universities have been forced to shut down due to the insincerity of government to keep to its promises. The standard of education continues to go down due to the insensitivity of government and the inability to provide conducive teaching, learning, and work environment through a lack of basic facilities that would make them compete with their peers in other parts of the world.

‘’The morale of university workers is dampened by the poor pay package and the government appears to be paying lip service to funding education. It is very clear that government pays more attention to frivolous things and has neglected the youths that are said to be the leaders of tomorrow.’’

Given the foregoing, it is expected that not a few readers are already wondering why this writer is expressing this view in this context. The reason for the expression of this view cannot be farfetched as the world is today celebrating World Teachers’ Day 2022.  The theme for World Teachers’ Day 2022 is “The transformation of education begins with teachers”. No doubt, this is a day to celebrate the transformative and critical role that teachers play in growing learners’ potential.

Given the facts that are inherent in the foregoing views, it is obvious that our leaders do not appreciate the importance of education to our society. Without a doubt, it is expedient in this context to enlighten our leaders on how imperative education is. Not only that, it is germane to say that each profession occupies a specific niche in our society. For instance, doctors heal, engineers design and bankers handle our money. Teaching, however, stands out as a subsumptive entity. At a preliminary stage, teachers instill the transcendent faculties of communication, decision-making, and awareness of social responsibilities. Later in life, no matter which field we choose to pursue, we again turn to teachers for training. A strong information base and well-developed capabilities of comprehension and analysis are critical for progress. These crucial responsibilities of inculcating knowledge, kindling inspiration, and encouraging creative thought are all vested in the teacher. Keeping in mind the increasing trend of both parents working long hours, the teacher is also expected to build a strong moral character and provide emotional support. Thus, the teacher has to build a rapport with the student and be simultaneously approachable and authoritative. His/her role encompasses that of an instructor, friend, role model, and confidant.

I often wonder about teachers who educated famous people such as Einstein and Abraham Lincoln. Were these teachers specially qualified to inspire their students to achieve fame and success? Or were these teachers just plain lucky to have talented students? Do some teachers have rare qualities of turning them into gold? The answer may not be easy to find. A great person once said, “Teaching is a profession that teaches all other professions”. Since ancient times, teachers have been playing an important role in our society. Behind every successful engineer or doctor, there is a teacher. A teacher is a person who molds them into engineers or doctors. A person who teaches us moral values, a person who encourages us is a teacher. Given the importance of teachers, we ought to have been praising them more than gods. Alexander the Great once said, “I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.”

In fact, the role of teachers in our society, which is invariably Nigeria, is both significant and valuable. They are one of the main pillars of a sound and progressive society. They bear the weight and responsibility of teaching, and, apart from parents, they are the main source of knowledge and values for children. It is rightly said that a teacher plays a key role in shaping our future. Nowadays, being an engineer or a doctor is considered good, but they would not have been able to get where they are without teachers. Teachers share the information they have. On the contrary, doctors and engineers do not necessarily share theirs. Right from the age of four, a child finds himself in the hands of a teacher. Throughout our lives, our teachers inspire us and teach us about values. They treat us like their own children and make us learn from their experiences. They make us strong enough to stand on our own feet and face any challenge. No engineer or doctor can ever replace a teacher’s contribution to our lives! Analyzed from the foregoing, it is not an exaggeration to say that “A good teacher is like a candle, it consumes itself to light the way for others”

A doctor treats patients, an engineer constructs buildings and machines but a teacher builds the nation. The young students of today are the leaders and the hope for the future of any country. They are the plants in the garden of the nation and teachers are the gardeners. By irrigating the “garden of the nation” and giving direction to the young, teachers lay the foundation for any country. These torch-bearers of the society undoubtedly play an indispensable and immensely important role in shaping a strong nation.  Given the foregoing, it is expedient to let our leaders know that there is no other profession that is more important than the teaching profession.

Against the backdrop of the foregoing view, it will not be a misnomer to let our leaders know that celebrating the world teachers day in Nigeria today tantamount to absurdity amidst the prevalence of ASUU