How to improve primary education – Teacher

A veteran teacher in Kano State, Malam Muhammad Lawal Musa, says that for the primary education system to be improved upon in the country, the welfare of teachers must be enhanced by government at all levels.

Speaking to Daily Trust, Malam Musa said unless the welfare of teachers is improved the system will not regain its lost glory as, according to him, teachers are the engine for the system.

“Government is killing the system by running away from enhancing teachers’ welfare. In the past teachers’ were treated like any other civil servant; when a teacher or member of his family is sick in Kano State for instance, all he needed to do was to go to government owned hospital. The doctor will treat him and government will pay the bills but now it is not like that,” he lamented.

The teacher also said: “Our duty post allowance has been stopped for reasons best known to the government and there is no plan to revive it. Apart from our salaries nothing is coming to us from government in the name of welfare. We want this allowance to be revived.”

He also advised government to address the problem of inadequate number teachers and classrooms in the state, noting that most of the primary schools in the state have been encroached upon for the construction of either junior or senior secondary schools.

“Government is not providing additional classroom blocks to the affected primary schools thereby causing shortage of classrooms in such schools,” he added.

Musa explained that the problem is causing serious congestion, lamenting that in some schools over 200 pupils are packed in a single classroom which is not conducive for learning.

He urged government to come to the aid of primary education system by addressing the problems of shortage of teachers, provide adequate classes and teaching and learning facilities as well as improving the welfare of teachers.

The veteran also urged unity among old boys to help grow their alma mater.