30% of Nigerian teachers left service in three years – UBEC

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Hamid Bobboyi, has raised alarms over a significant loss of the teaching workforce in Nigeria, with the country losing over 30% of its teachers in the past three years without adequate replacement. 

Bobboyi described the situation as “frightening” during a six-day training session organized by the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in collaboration with UBEC.

The training, held in Kano, was attended by 30 School Support Officers (SSOs) focusing on the SMASE (Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education) initiative and Jolly Phonics. Bobboyi emphasized that the teaching workforce has been severely impacted, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many teachers have retired or left the profession, and their positions have not been filled, leading to a critical shortage of educators.

“Nationwide, in the last three years, particularly beginning with the period of COVID-19, we have lost over 30% of our teaching workforce. And it is very frightening. A lot of them retired, while some of them left the service without being replaced,” Bobboyi stated.

Despite the grim situation, Bobboyi commended the Kano State government for its proactive approach in recruiting new teachers and replacing those who have retired. He urged other states to follow Kano’s example to address the growing shortage.

“So for Kano to be taking proactive measures in that regard is something that pleases me immensely. And I hope and pray other states should also learn from Kano and make sure that it can also take serious measures,” he added.

Bobboyi also highlighted the importance of improving the welfare of teachers, whom he described as essential to the development of future leaders and the overall progress of the country.

“The teacher is a very fundamental element in the entire ecosystem that we have. If you neglect the teacher who neglects the children, the country cannot develop. So we make sure, to safeguard the future of the country, we have to safeguard the welfare of the teacher so that he can also safeguard and make sure he develops the future generation that can take care of the country,” Bobboyi emphasized.

The UBEC Executive Secretary praised the teacher development unit for organizing the training, noting that such initiatives are critical strategies for ensuring quality education across the nation.