Abuja: The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has commended the Federal Government for starting the recruitment of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers into the formal teaching system. Prof. Boniface Odeh, President of NAPTAN, expressed appreciation in a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Odeh stated that the initiative was a significant step forward, addressing one of the association’s longstanding appeals to both federal and state governments to integrate qualified PTA teachers into the formal teaching system. ‘On behalf of NAPTAN, we express our profound gratitude to the administration of President Bola Tinubu for the announcement and commencement of the Federal Government PTA Teachers Recruitment Programme. This laudable exercise, under the leadership of President Tinubu and the supervision of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, is a welcome development that directly addresses one of our longstanding requests,’ he said.
The NAPTAN president highlighted that PTA teachers have supported teaching and learning in schools for years, often without receiving due recognition. He emphasized that the recruitment exercise would provide opportunities for qualified teachers while enhancing basic education in the country. ‘For years, PTA teachers have carried the burden of supporting teaching and learning in our schools with little recognition. By creating this pathway for qualified and passionate teachers, the federal government has not only given hope to thousands of educators, but has also strengthened the foundation of basic education in Nigeria,’ Odeh noted.
Odeh added that the initiative demonstrated the government’s commitment to quality education, job creation, and improved support for parents and communities. He expressed confidence that the program would enhance teachers’ welfare, reduce classroom shortages, and elevate educational standards for Nigerian children. However, he called for transparency and merit in the recruitment process, urging the government to extend the exercise nationwide. ‘We urge that the recruitment process be transparent, merit-based, and extended to all states to ensure that no qualified teacher is left behind,’ he mentioned.
Odeh assured the Federal Government of NAPTAN’s ongoing partnership and support as a pivotal stakeholder in the education sector. He thanked President Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Education for addressing parents’ concerns and implementing measures aimed at improving education delivery nationwide. ‘This is truly governance that puts the people and our children first,’ Odeh concluded.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the federal government approved the recruitment of 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association teachers into the federal public service. The approval will absorb educators who have taught in Unity and Technical Colleges across the country for up to 25 years without permanent government appointments. Alausa, who made the announcement, described it as a landmark intervention that addressed a persistent teacher shortage in Federal Unity Colleges.