As the world celebrates World Teachers’ Day today, a Nigerian teacher, Emediong Philip, has called on government at all levels to improve the welfare and working conditions of teachers in the country to enable them to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.
World Teachers’ Day, which is marked globally every 5th of October, is a day set aside to celebrate teachers and appreciate their contributions to the development of education and society at large, and the 2026 edition comes with renewed calls for better treatment of teachers.
The 2026 celebration is themed “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession and advancing its status and shaping our futures,” a theme that highlights the need to protect the teaching profession and elevate its status in the scheme of things.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, as part of activities marking the day, Emediong Philip said teachers remain the foundation of every profession but are not given the recognition and support they deserve.
According to her, if the welfare of teachers is prioritised and their working environment is made conducive, teachers will be more motivated to give their best and produce students who can compete favourably with their counterparts anywhere in the world.
Philip noted that teachers play a very critical role in nation building because they mold characters, impart knowledge and shape the future of children, hence they should be treated with dignity and respect by government and society.
She explained that despite their enormous contributions, many teachers in Nigeria still work under difficult conditions with poor salaries, lack of promotion and little or no encouragement from government and other stakeholders in the education sector.
The classroom teacher identified overcrowded classrooms as one of the major challenges affecting effective teaching and learning in public schools across the country, saying it makes it difficult for teachers to give individual attention to pupils.
She said in many schools, a single teacher is made to handle over 70 to 100 pupils in one classroom, a situation that is not conducive for learning and puts unnecessary pressure on the teacher who wants to ensure every child understands the lesson.
Philip also listed inadequate teaching materials as another serious problem confronting teachers, noting that many schools lack basic instructional materials such as textbooks, whiteboards, markers, charts and laboratory equipment needed to make teaching more practical and interesting.
She added that poor infrastructure in schools, including dilapidated classroom blocks, leaking roofs, broken chairs and desks, lack of toilet facilities and absence of water supply, also hamper the efforts of teachers to deliver quality education to Nigerian children.
According to her, a child cannot learn effectively in an environment that is not safe, clean and comfortable, and a teacher cannot teach well when the classroom itself is a source of distraction and discomfort to both the teacher and the learners.
The teacher therefore appealed to federal, state and local governments to invest more in education by building more classrooms, providing modern teaching aids and renovating old school structures to create a better learning atmosphere for students.
She also called for regular training and retraining of teachers to expose them to modern teaching methods and technology, stressing that the world is changing and teachers must be equipped with current knowledge and digital skills to remain relevant.
Philip further emphasised the need for stronger cooperation and collaboration among government, parents and the larger society to support teachers in their efforts to provide students with the knowledge, skills and values required for the future.
She said parents should not leave the training of their children to teachers alone, but should complement the efforts of teachers at home by monitoring their children’s academic progress, providing learning materials and instilling discipline and good morals in them.
According to her, when government provides the necessary infrastructure and materials, parents play their supportive role and society respects teachers, the education sector will experience tremendous improvement and students will be better prepared for future challenges.
She maintained that the future of any nation depends on the quality of education given to its children, and the quality of education depends largely on how well teachers are treated, trained and motivated to do their work.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the education sector have continued to send goodwill messages to teachers across the world, commending them for their sacrifices, patience and dedication to duty despite the numerous challenges they face daily.
In Akwa Ibom State, the government has organised various programmes to celebrate teachers today, including award ceremonies for outstanding teachers and public lectures on how to improve the standard of education in the state and Nigeria as a whole.
As the celebration of World Teachers’ Day 2026 continues globally, the call by Emediong Philip for improved welfare, better working conditions and greater recognition for teachers has added its voice to the global demand for governments to stand with teachers and give them their rightful place in society.
