This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
World Teachers' Day: Nigerian Teachers Share Their Experiences ¶
October 5, 2019, marked World Teachers' Day, a day to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of teachers in shaping society. In honor of this day, Business Insider Sub Saharan Africa spoke to three Nigerian Secondary School teachers who shared their experiences and insights.
Meet Mrs. Balogun, Mr. Rafiu, and Mrs. Emem, each with over 20 years of teaching experience. They shared their reasons for choosing the profession, their most rewarding moments, and the challenges they face.
Mrs. Balogun, an Economics teacher, said she chose teaching because of the reward it brings both on earth and in heaven. She has been teaching for 20 years and finds joy in seeing her students succeed.
Mr. Rafiu, a Mathematics teacher, loves dealing with children and has been teaching for 30 years. He believes that teachers are nation builders but often lack proper recognition from the government, students, and society.
Mrs. Emem, a French teacher, initially chose teaching as a profession due to her parents' influence. However, she fell in love with it and has been teaching for 32 years. She finds joy in seeing her students excel and being recognized as a positive influence in their lives.
When asked about the best moments in their teaching careers, Mrs. Balogun mentioned seeing her students succeed and become teachers themselves. Mr. Rafiu highlighted receiving his employment letter, promotion, and best teacher award in 2006. Mrs. Emem mentioned being introduced as her students' teacher and receiving her level 17 promotion letter as a Director of Education in Lagos State.
However, the teachers also shared their challenges. Mrs. Balogun mentioned the meager salary, while Mr. Rafiu highlighted the lack of recognition from the government, students, and society. Mrs. Emem noted that people look down on teachers due to their salary, but also appreciate their sense of judgment.
When asked about the differences between teaching in their twenties and now, Mr. Rafiu said that teaching was better in the past due to more control over students. Mrs. Emem mentioned that she was full of energy in her twenties and helped with other subjects, but now students are distracted by technology and pornography.
The teachers also discussed the differences between the current educational system and previous years. Mrs. Balogun mentioned the use of technology, computers, and whiteboards. Mr. Rafiu highlighted the government's policies, which are often formulated without considering classroom realities. Mrs. Emem noted that policymakers often lack teaching experience and fail to involve teachers in decision-making.
Finally, the teachers offered advice to young teachers. Mrs. Balogun encouraged them to do the right thing, which will impact their children. Mrs. Emem advised them to give their best, as their reward starts here and will live on through generations.
