From Yakubu Busari,Jos
Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has pledged his administration’ s commitment to reposition the public schools by engaging teachers in policy discussions towards reforms.
Governor Caleb made the commitment at the 2024 Celebration of World Teachers Day at Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos North LGA.
The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Water Resource and Urban Transformation,Hon. Lawandi said,”we come together to celebrate and recognize the invaluable role of teachers in shaping our society , with the theme for this year’s celebration “Valuing Teacher Voices”.
According to him the celebration”reminds us of the urgent need to place teachers at the center of our educational reforms.
“Teachers are the bedrock of our education system. You are the ones who interact daily with our students, guiding them and preparing them for the future.
“Your insights, therefore, are critical in shaping policies that will transform our education system for the better”he said.
Mutfwang’s stated that for too long, the voices of teachers have been underrepresented in key decisions, but as a government, “we are committed to changing that.
“We pledge to actively engage teachers in policy discussions and reforms. Your experience and ideas are essential in building a system that responds to the needs of both teachers and students.”
Mutfwang’s disclosed that his administration was fully dedicated to ensuring that teachers are empowered, respected, and provided with the necessary resources to excel in their duties.
He said, “We are already working towards improving the productivity of the teachers, expanding opportunities for professional development, and upgrading educational infrastructure.
The governor stated that these are evident in the recent training conducted for Math and English teachers across the three senatorial zones, with the hope of expansion to teachers of other subjects, and the recently awarded contract for the construction of fifty five (55) schools across the three senatorial zones of the state.
Also evident is the elongation of service by five (5) years, posting of teachers to schools as mentors, particularly to the newly employed teachers, while enjoying without delay the usual credits monthly.
“These efforts have and will only continue to succeed if your voices are heard and reflected in every step we take,” he said, adding that as we build this new social contract for education, our government will continue to create platforms for teachers to contribute directly to policy formulation. We believe that by valuing your voices, we can collectively build an education system that prepares our children for the challenges of tomorrow and uplifts our society.
‘In the words of Henry Brooks Adams, “A teacher affects eternity; they can never tell where their influence stops.” Let us ensure that your influence as teachers continues to shape our world for generations to come.’
