1.4 million teachers deficient for 42 million pupils – FG

On Monday, the Federal Government showed some concern over the inadequacy of qualified teachers in the country, saying that the 1.4 million teachers in the system were not enough for the over 42 million pupils in basic schools.

The government called on states to engage successful candidates who partake in the Federal Teachers Scheme examination.

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr Hamid Boboye, stated this in Abuja after monitoring the conduct of the FTS examination, which at the Computer-Based Centres of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board in Kogo and Bwari.

The FTS examination which took place simultaneously in 74 JAMB approved centres in the country aimed to assist states find teachers for rural schools.

Boboye said although a total of 14,729 candidates had taken the 2020/2021 FTS examination, only 3,700 candidates (100 per state) would be selected because of slim budget.

He said, “As far as public schools are concerned, we have problem in terms of the number of teachers that can adequately meet the population of pupils that we have. With about 1.4 million teachers in the system, we need more teachers to cater for the over 42 million pupils we have.”

Boboye, who said the FTS examination was an internship scheme, emphasised that giving permanent employment to successful candidates was at the discretion of the states.

He said, “We have been urging the states to ensure that these participants in the FTS are absorbed because UBEC has spent resources in making sure that they are trained as teachers who can contribute to teaching and learning.”