Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, Monday, disclosed that the federal government has already begun implementation of the 65 years retirement age for teachers in public schools.
Adamu, who also said 40 years of pensionable service for the teachers was being put into effect, explained that the new policy was meant to address career path, remuneration, professional teaching standards, qualifications, deployment, and management of teachers.
He spoke through the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. David Adejo, at the unveiling of activities lined up for the 2022 World Teachers Day, with the theme: “The Transformation of Education Begins With Teachers”.
According to him, the 2022 event focuses on the importance of empowering teachers for the effective transformation of education to ensure quality teaching and learning as well as galvanise technological advancements to meet the ever-changing needs for national growth and development.
He explained that the 2022 event will also see teachers with outstanding commitment to the profession benefiting from the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award (PTSEA).
Also speaking, the National President of Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, explained that the event would highlight the critical role teachers “are expected to play in transforming and shaping the future of Education in the midst of growing societal needs and challenges of the 21st century.”
The event, according to him, “is coming on the heels of the UN-led Transforming Education Summit (TES), which also seeks to draw public attention to the support teachers need to fully contribute to educational transformation.”
He said: “Indeed, the right number of qualified teachers are needed, and be provided with access to continuing professional development, improved status, and working conditions, and be empowered, motivated and supported.
“The NUT remains grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari, for signing into law the “Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Bill” which provides for the retirement of teachers on the attainment of 65 years or 40 years of pensionable service, and look forward to the implementation of the new retirement age and other approvals announced by the Federal Government at the 2020 edition of the World Teachers Day celebration.”
