The Federal Government has on Thursday disclosed that plans are underway to boost the salaries and the conditions of service of teachers across the country. The Minister of Education for State, Chukwuemeka Uwahiuba made the disclosure during the Seplat Energy Roundtable and STEP Certificate Award ceremony for teachers in Benin.
“The special salary scale for teachers in basic and secondary schools, including provision for rural posting, science teachers’ allowance, and other peculiar allowances are some of the juicy packages in the pipeline for teachers,” he said.
The minister, represented by his Technical Adviser, Mrs. Muna Onuzo-Adetona said President Muhammadu Buhari has made instructive policies for a robust reform in the education sector, especially in the teaching profession, in a bid to make it nationally relevant and globally competitive.
He noted that the federal government in recognition of the role of teachers in nation-building extended the retirement age for teachers from 60 years to 65 years and the length of service from 35 years to 40 years.
Speaking, Head of External Affairs, SEPLAT, Dr. Chioma Nwachukwu said 214 teachers and 6 Chief Inspectors of Education were successfully trained through the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP).
“STEP is designed to promote teacher’s creative thinking, provide training on teaching applications for Science, Technology, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM),” she said.