The Federal Government has proposed the temporary engagement of retired teachers and skilled volunteers as part of efforts to address staffing shortages in Nigeria’s education sector.

The proposal Is contained in the National Teacher Policy released last month by the Federal Ministry of Education and obtained on Saturday.

The document outlines a series of interventions aimed at tackling persistent challenges affecting the teaching profession, including acute teacher shortages, declining quality of instruction, and low retention rates.

According to the policy, authorities may draw from experienced professionals outside the active workforce, particularly in areas facing crisis situations or severe manpower gaps.

“In case of crisis areas where retired teachers and highly skilled volunteers are available, State Ministries of Education shall consider recruitment temporarily to fill existing human resource shortages,” the document stated.

The policy also emphasises recruiting teachers from local communities as a strategy to improve retention and reduce frequent staff turnover.

“The Federal Ministry of Education and State Ministries of Education shall ensure that teachers are recruited from among the local communities to promote retention,” it added.

The policy identifies widespread gaps in the system, including teacher attrition, inadequate subject mastery, and the engagement of unqualified personnel.

It noted that a lack of enforcement of teacher professionalism has led to the rise of non-certified practitioners, while shortages have increased workload and stress among teachers, affecting the quality of instruction.

Concerns were also raised about poor infrastructure, insufficient teaching materials, and limited digital capacity among educators.

“There is a low level of Information and Communication Technology penetration and utilisation in an ICT-dominated era among teachers, alongside a lack of competencies in the use of digital technology and artificial intelligence,” the document stated.

The policy further highlighted low motivation among teachers, citing delayed career progression, poor incentives, and negative societal attitudes toward the profession.

In rural areas, the situation is described as more severe, with schools experiencing greater shortages due to poor incentives and uneven deployment of teachers.

Despite these challenges, the government said the policy is designed to reposition the profession and improve learning outcomes nationwide.

“The National Teacher Policy will bring about a common understanding, transformation and elevation of the teaching profession and status to align it with international best practices,” it stated.

Nigeria’s education sector continues to face staffing and quality challenges, with shortages of qualified teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and overburdened educators particularly affecting rural and underserved areas.

Rapid population growth, limited investment in teacher training, and uneven policy implementation have widened the gap between the number of skilled teachers and the growing student population, contributing to declining educational standards.

Past efforts, including teacher development programmes and curriculum reforms, have struggled to produce lasting results, as many trained educators leave the sector for better opportunities.

Last year, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria identified the shortage of qualified teachers as a key factor behind declining learning outcomes, while the Nigeria Union of Teachers reported a deficit of over 194,876 educators in public schools and called for urgent government action on salaries and welfare improvements. (Sunday Tribune)