The Federal Government has announced plans to recruit 2,000 teachers per state annually to tackle the growing shortage of teachers across Nigeria. This initiative will span the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, bringing the total number of new hires to 74,000 teachers.
According to the Ministry of Education, the policy is set to be implemented by December 2024. This timeline was outlined in a roadmap obtained by Saturday Punch in Abuja on Friday.
A recent report revealed that 18 states have not recruited new teachers in the past five years, exacerbating the national shortage. The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has also raised concerns about the scarcity of qualified teachers in public schools.
To address this, the Ministry of Education’s roadmap mandates that states recruit at least 2,000 certified teachers annually, as endorsed by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). The Minister of State for Education is also expected to engage state governors to secure their commitment to the initiative.
The first phase of the policy is scheduled to be completed by December 2024.
