Union showers retired teachers with money, gifts

As part of the World Teachers’ Day, the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools of Nigeria has honoured 22 retired teachers for their commitment to the profession.

The event, which took place at Yaba, Lagos, saw each of the teachers receiving N110,000, among other items from the association.

The ASUSS President, Mr. Kazeem Labaika, who spoke on the occasion, noted that teachers played crucial roles in the transformation of any country.

He spoke on “Teaching Today: An International Overview of Professional Development and Conditions of Work.”

According to him, a good investment in teachers is an elixir for any country to attain greater development.

He, therefore, urged the federal and state governments to develop teaching standard and improve teachers’ working conditions.

An Associate Professor of Science Education at the University of Lagos, Ayodele Ogunleye, who chaired the ceremony, canvassed the need for more training for teachers, especially for those without requisite relevant experience.

He also urged the authorities to endeavour to institute policies that would lift the profession to loftier heights.

Ogunleye said, “Teachers should be given study leave with pay after having served for five years to enable them to further their education and training.

“The Federal Government should give teachers national honours award like their counterparts in the Armed Forces.”

Due to internal wrangling, some primary and secondary school teachers left the Nigeria Union of Teachers in 2009 to form ASUSS.