Federal Government to Recruit 3,500 Teachers for Unity Colleges

The Federal Government, through the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, has announced plans to recruit 3,500 teachers for Unity Colleges across the nation. This move is part of the government’s efforts to enhance the quality of education in the country.

Speaking at a two-day national stakeholders’ forum on Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria, themed “Revitalising Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria for Global Competitiveness,” Dr. Sununu emphasized the importance of the recruitment. He stated, “I want to assure you that the ministry is currently collaborating with the Office of the Head of Service, the Federal Civil Service Commission, and other relevant government organs to recruit 3,500 teaching staff in the Federal Ministry of Education. This will be for the utilisation of our various Federal Government colleges nationwide. It will go a long way in improving the quality of education.”

The Minister also highlighted the ministry’s commitment to training and retraining all school workers, with over 1,000 staff already trained in the application of technology to education through its research resource centre. Furthermore, the government has established more than 53 vocational skills acquisition centres to equip today’s youth with essential skills, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

In addition, the ministry has received approval to build 50 more model schools nationwide to further enhance teaching and learning. Dr. Sununu stressed the importance of revitalising the Senior Secondary Education sub-sector to meet global demands, stating, “The ability to revitalise the Senior Secondary Education sub-sector to meet global demands is not merely a function of the mind but also a function of key actions that optimise the system.”

The Executive Secretary of the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC), Dr. Iyela Ajayi, also spoke at the event, urging stakeholders to take ownership of the national policy on senior secondary education and its implementation guidelines.

Furthermore, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Services, Mark Usani, called for a total overhaul of the senior secondary curriculum to meet global competitiveness. Abbas pointed out several challenges faced by senior secondary education in the country, including a lack of qualified teachers, funding, and inadequate infrastructure.