Leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT, Delta state chapter, has said public schools across Delta State require more than 10,000 additional teachers to address a growing manpower shortage affecting both the primary and secondary school systems.
Comrade Dickson Poubeni, Chairman Delta State NUT , gave this disclosure during an interactive session with journalists at Teachers’ House, off DLA Road, Asaba.
Poubeni said an independent screening and audit exercise recently conducted in the state revealed significant gaps in the number of teachers available to meet the needs of pupils and students.
He attributed the shortage to the retirement and death of serving teachers, as well as the manpower deficiencies identified during the audit.
According to him, the situation is placing increasing pressure on teachers currently in service and could negatively affect effective teaching and learning if urgent steps are not taken. The NUT chairman said the audit had provided the government with reliable data for immediate manpower planning and recruitment, stressing that the shortage could no longer be ignored.
He commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other stakeholders for initiating the exercise, noting that it had offered a clearer picture of the manpower situation in Delta state public schools.
Poubeni also described the recent approval of career progression for graduate teachers from Grade Level 14 to Grade Level 17 as a major breakthrough adding that the policy had removed a long-standing career ceiling for university graduate teachers in the public primary school system, noting that it would boost morale and encourage professional development.
The union leader further called for a more humane and sensitive transfer policy for teachers, considering the current economic realities. He suggested that teachers who had spent between five and seven years in a particular school could be considered for rotation, while family circumstances and administrative requirements should also be taken into account.
Poubeni urged parents and guardians to cooperate with teachers in maintaining discipline in schools, saying effective discipline was essential to creating an orderly environment conducive to learning.
While commending the state government’s investment in the renovation and construction of classrooms, he called for greater attention to school fencing to improve the security of pupils, students and teachers.
Poubeni expressed confidence in the Governor Oborevwori commitment to the education sector and pledged the NUT’s continued partnership with the government to address the teacher shortage, improve welfare and promote quality education across the state.