The European Union (EU) has inaugurated the second phase of its education programme – “Expand, Integrate and Strengthen Systems (EISS),” to build the capacity of teachers in Nigeria.

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi, made this known at the inauguration of the Programme in Abuja.

Ms Isopi represented by EU’s head of human development, Leila Mathieu, said that the second phase of the programme focused on teachers.

This, she said, complemented the first phase, education and youth empowerment in northwestern Nigeria, inaugurated in 2023.

“The funding for both phases amounts to 45.4 million euros under the Global Gateway Strategy to boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy and transport sectors.

“It will also strengthen health, education and research systems across the world.”

According to Ms Isopi, the EU under EISS will partner with six training colleges in Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Katsina, Plateau and Oyo. The beneficiary states are expected to, in turn, reach out to a wider pool of teachers.

“Why focus on teachers? Because teachers are the bedrock of education, they are the ones who inspire, nurture, and guide our future generations

“Investing in teachers is investing in our collective future. All over the world, they play an essential role in shaping the minds and hearts of the next generation.

“However, in many countries, and in Nigeria in particular, teachers face numerous challenges, ranging from insufficient resources to the pressures of adapting to rapidly changing educational environments.”

Ms Isopi said that recognising these challenges, the European Union identified with the government on the critical need to support Nigerian teachers in their professional development and personal resilience.

She said that by empowering teachers, the quality of education would be enhanced, and students would receive the guidance and support needed to succeed in an ever-changing world.

“Specifically, the initiative will fund the development and review of education policies and career paths for the teaching profession in Nigeria.

“It will also ensure that teachers’ capacity and resilience are enhanced through pre-service and in-service teachers’ education programmes as well as strengthen teacher-student collaboration and learning teams at school and community levels.

“This programme’s implementation is entrusted to our partner, UNESCO,” she said.

The UN resident coordinator, Mohammed Fall, while commending Nigeria’s effort to meet up with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), expressed worry over the high number of inadequately trained teachers in schools.

“A 2021 report by UNESCO Institute for Statistics states that Sub-Saharan Africa faces the biggest challenge, with the lowest percentages of trained teachers in pre-primary 57 per cent.

“In primary 67 per cent and secondary education 61 per cent among all regions.

“The UNESCO Global Report on Teachers 2023 notes that teacher attrition is a global concern: between 2015 and 2022, attrition rates of primary education teachers doubled around the world from 4.6 to 9 per cent.

“Regardless of the country’s income level and even remuneration, teachers are leaving the profession within the first five years of practice. We must halt this worrisome trend.”

Also speaking, the minister of education, Prof. Mamman Tahir, said that teachers represented a significant milestone in the collective efforts to transform the educational landscape in Nigeria.

Mr Tahir, represented by the director, basic education, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, commended the funding support from the EU, the technical support of UNESCO as well as the commitment of all the state governments involved in the programme.

He said the project was aimed at improving student attainment and contributing to Nigeria’s human development through an increase in the number of qualified and resilient teachers.

He added that the project would help in addressing the challenges confronting teachers in the country.

“We understand the challenges our teachers face, especially in fragile and demanding environments such as ours. This project will provide them with the tools and support they need to excel.

“By strengthening our teachers and the teachers’ education programmes and implementing robust teacher policies, we can ensure that our teachers are well prepared, they are adequately recruited, deployed and managed.”

He added that the six states benefitting from the programme would create models of excellence that would be replicated across the country.

(NAN)