Today, stakeholders in the education sector are marking World Teachers' Day, an annual event organised by UNESCO to celebrate teachers worldwide and highlight the need to recognise, support, and improve the teaching profession. The 2026 celebration is being held under the theme, “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures.” This event acknowledges the crucial role teachers play in shaping the future of education.
Nigerian teachers are using this occasion to call for improved welfare, continuous professional development, and stronger policy support. Mr Samson Oyelere, principal secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ogun State chapter, emphasised the need for institutionalised continuous professional development for teachers. He stressed that regular training is essential to improving the quality of teaching and learning, enabling teachers to respond to changing educational and technological demands.
Teachers are also advocating for better working conditions and welfare packages. Mrs Jennifer Igba, an Abuja-based teacher, said teachers need stronger institutional support to remain motivated and effective. She argued that teachers are at the heart of the education system and that quality results cannot be expected without giving them the welfare and working conditions they deserve.
This year’s observance is particularly significant as it marks the 60th anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation on the Status of Teachers, an international framework that established standards on teachers’ rights and responsibilities, preparation, recruitment, employment, and working conditions. This milestone highlights the importance of protecting and advancing the teaching profession.
Mr Oyelere also called for full autonomy and adequate funding for regulatory bodies in the education sector, along with a sustainable welfare package for teachers. He suggested that such a package should include housing, health insurance, and a dignified pension system to provide teachers with greater security during and after their years of service.
Some states have announced measures to enable teachers to participate in activities marking the global observance. In Ekiti State, the government has declared today, Monday, October 5, a work-free day for teachers to enable them to participate in World Teachers’ Day celebrations. The State Commissioner for Education, Dr Adebimpe Aderiye, commended teachers for their contributions to the development of education and the future of children in the state.
Mr Oyelere further emphasised the need for continuity in education policies, arguing that frequent government changes should not disrupt long-term plans for the sector. He stressed that every child, regardless of location or background, should have access to quality and functional education that prepares them for the future of work.
Key points
- Nigerian teachers call for improved welfare and working conditions.
- Stakeholders advocate for continuous professional development and stronger policy support for teachers.
- The 2026 World Teachers' Day celebration marks the 60th anniversary of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation on the Status of Teachers.
