The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education said it has initiated numerous policies to revitalize the teaching profession to ensure teachers are professionally empowered and motivated.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 2025 World Teachers’ Day at Eagle Square in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa explained that the policies, which includes National Teacher Policy, aims to support the teachers to experience professional growth and fulfillment.
“Our experience has shown that when teachers are supported to work together through peer mentoring, joint lesson planning, co-teaching, and the use of digital platforms, learning outcomes improve, and teachers themselves experience professional growth and fulfillment.
“The Ministry initiated numerous Policies to revitalize the teaching profession including the National Teacher Policy which ensures that teachers are professionally empowered and motivated”, he said.
The Minister emphasized that peer support structures are being encouraged at school and zonal levels nationwide.
According to him, the sector is also leveraging ICT to connect teachers across states and provide access to global best practices, stressing that a robust continuous professional development opportunity through the Teachers Registration Council (TRCN) of Nigeria, National Teachers Institute (NTI) and Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) have be put in place.
On the theme of the event, “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession”, Dr. Alausa called for a collaboration, saying “when Nigerian Teachers collaborate and thrive, our children learn better, our education system becomes stronger, and our nation is assured of a brighter future”.
In her opening remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, acknowledged the vital role of teachers in advancing education for sustainable development.
Prof. Suwaiba, however, lamented the burden being shouldered by the teachers, stressing that, “For too long, teaching in Nigeria has often been approached as an isolated responsibility, with each teacher carrying the heavy burden of instruction alone”.
She said the realities of large class sizes, curriculum reforms, digital transitions, and diverse learner needs demand a more collaborative approach.
To address that burden, the Minister of State disclosed that the Ministry is strengthening teacher collaboration through initiatives such as the National Teacher Development Policy (2022), the Digital Literacy and Skills Framework, and the promotion of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) across schools.
According to her, the efforts are in line with commitment to raising teacher quality, professional pride, and overall learning outcomes.
“Teaching is often viewed as an individual practice, which can make some teachers resist collaboration for fear of interference or added workload. To address this, it is essential to build and sustain a culture of trust, openness, and shared responsibility”, she concluded.
Welcoming the teachers and stakeholders to this year’s celebration, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, emphasized the need for collaborative teaching.
While recognising teachers as the backbone of Nigeria’s education system, the Permanent Secretary said collaborative teaching is the best practice for improving learning.
“Around the world, collaborative teaching is being recognized as a powerful strategy for improving learning outcomes.
“In Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Education, in partnership with all the Education parastatals, the State Ministries and other agencies, is championing reforms that make collaboration central to teacher training, classroom practice, and professional development”, he said.
Spark News Naija reports that this year’s celebration brought together key stakeholders in the education sector to honour Nigerian teachers for their efforts in advancing the cause of Nigeria’s education.
The highpoint of the celebration was the giving of awards of excellence and performance, which saw the best teacher being given a car while the best school got a bus.