To commemorate the 2021 World Teachers Day, Plateau Governor, Simon Bako Lalong has rewarded the best performing secondary school teachers in his state with awards of excellence and cash gifts.
He performed the gesture during the maiden edition of the “Governors Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards” held on October 4, 2022 at the Joseph Gomwalk Secretariat where incentive was given to public and private school teachers including best performing schools in the state drawn from across the 17 local government areas.
In his remarks at the occasion, Lalong commended the teachers for the hardwork, commitment and enormous sacrifices they have made to their state and country in ensuring children get educated in the society.
He praised the teachers for being resilient amidst COVID-19 daunting challenges, calling on them to redouble their efforts towards safety and learning in line with the timely theme of the 2021 celebrations “Teachers at the heart of Education recovery” which is a pointer that they must join hands to recover what was lost in the education sector during the pandemic.
He expressed delight that his administration has not only injected the use of Information Communications Technology (ICT) in enhancing learning, employed 2,000 teachers, but is collaborating with a World Bank program known as Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Environment Project (AGILE) to recruit 2000 academic and non-academic staff to add to the existing teachers in the state.
“Plateau was second to last in West African Examinations Council Exams (WAEC) when I came into power but today, my state is leading in terms of technology and has not only produced students who emerged the best in WAEC in the North Central Zone but in Nigeria as a whole”.
“I am therefore not surprised that Plateau is amongst the recipients of the prestigious Teachers Award at the Federal level” he said assuring that after this maiden edition, his administration will continue boosting teachers morale with such gestures to encourage their current successful strides and determination.
Earlier in her welcome address, Hon. Commissioner of Education-Secondary, Mrs. Elizabeth Wapmuk commended the 21st Century Teachers who use digital and moral methods to shape and mould the character and personality traits of their students in the global age.
The Commissioner said among some challenges confronting the teacher at the present jet-age is education of the girl-child and Persons Living with Disabilities including drug abuse among students, but she urged both teachers and parents to jointly play their part to address the issues.
Wapmuk also appreciated President Mohammadu Buhari’s commitment to the educational sector in the country through his extension of teachers years of service, training of teachers locally and internationally, provision for rural posting allowance, approving building of low cost housing for teachers in rural areas, expansion of annual Presidential Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards, and giving free tuition and automatic admission for biological children of teachers in respective schools among others.
Mr. Dimlong James Gambo, President All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) Plateau State Chapter spoke on behalf of the award recipients and appreciated the Governors gesture saying it will certainly boost their morale and encourage teachers in the state to work harder.
The NIGERIA STANDARD reports that a seasoned educationist Mr. John Ishaku Jobdi, who has served in many schools in Plateau State is among Nigerians penciled to receive the National Teachers Presidential Awards that recognises best teachers in the country and the event is to hold on 5th October 2021 at Abuja.
Highlights of the event was poem recitations and a playlet presentation by Government Secondary School Township Jos.
