Mal. Adamu Adamu
Mass recruitment of Nigerian teachers by UK good for Nigeria’s
underutilised teachers —Don
Recently, it was reported that the United Kingdom (UK) was going to
recruit Nigerian teachers in large numbers to work in British schools in February this year. ILIYASU A. UJI brings the views of Nigerian educators and stakeholders on the report.
Background
The United Kingdom government has listed Nigeria among African and Common Wealth countries whose citizens can now apply for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) through the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), commencing from February 2023. Other countries to apply include Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Singapore, South Africa, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.
As reported early December, 2022, on the UK government’s website, by its Department for Education, the window is for interested non-British nationals.
The report hinted that the applicants do not even necessarily require initial teaching qualifications because UK offers a training programme for its potential migrants.
The report said from February 1, 2023, qualified teachers in the nine countries mentioned above will also be able to apply.
“Teachers from all eligible countries will have to show they meet a consistent set of criteria for the award of the QTS. Over time, this route will be opened to qualified teachers from every country outside the UK,” the notice reads.
To make it easier for interested teachers, the notice said applicants do not need a formal teacher training qualification, though a minimum of two years teaching experience is required.
Following this notice, some Nigerians claim that the massive
recruitment of Nigerian teachers by the British government will
increase the tempo of brain-drain and consequently weaken the
education sector. However, others see it as succour for Nigerian
teachers who suffer neglect in their fatherland.
The reactions
It is interesting to note that data at Teacher’s Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) website shows that about 350,000 Nigerian teachers are qualified for such employment from a pool of 1.5 million teschers.
The Registrar, TRCN, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, applauded the UK Education Department and the government for the policy.
Ajiboye said it illustrates the high quality of Nigerian teachers,
adding, “When we started these innovations in the teaching profession, we stated that our qualifying examinations would be of global standards and the UK has confirmed that with this policy.
“It is not only there, even from Canada, the United States and many other countries; we get enquiries on a daily basis. I don’t see it as brain-drain. The world has become a global village and people even work for firms in Europe while living here in Nigeria. Moreover, our people will gain insight there that could positively rub off on our society later.
“There is no question it is good for Nigerian teachers to have the
opportunity to export their skills. But while it will be of personal
benefit to the teachers, and we must be happy for them, we should also confront the fact that it will be at a great loss to Nigeria’s future and prospects of national growth.”
Speaking at a one-day retreat on the state of education in Nigeria
organised by the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN) in Abuja, in November 2022, Prof Ajiboye said foreign nations seek Nigerian professionals because Nigeria’s education is one of the best in the world. This is why, he said, Nigerian graduates are sorted
out globally. He reprimanded those who said the standard of Nigeria’s education is falling and urged Nigerians to stop portraying the education sector in bad light.
“Nigeria’s education is among one of the best in the world as at
today, if not, why are Nigerian professionals going outside the
country?”
“Even this year alone, I have signed letters of professional standing for over 260 Nigerians going to teach in Canada alone and as of this morning; we have a letter from the UK from the head of their teaching council. She sends a message for a pro-formal letter of professional
standing because they want to start taking Nigerian teachers
massively,” he has hinted, and thereafter, called on the media to help the country in amplifying
the positive values of the sector so that foreign countries would be
able to read about Nigeria and appreciate its educational system. He added that Nigerian graduates in foreign universities are sometimes allowed to do doctoral degrees with a waiver on Master’s.
Ajiboye said Nigeria has her challenges ranging from insecurity and the resultant rise in out-of- school children, yet a lot of progress is being made in the sector.
Reactions from a cross section of Nigerians
The Director of Public Affairs in the Federal Ministry of Education
(FME), Mr Ben Bem Goong, who should have known better whether the planned mass recruitment of Nigerian teachers by UK is a blessing or otherwise to the sector, kept mum. All our visits to his office for a chat proved abortive. He neither responded to our text messages nor
whatsApp chats. However, here are some Nigerians who spoke to
Blueprint concerning the question.
An Army officer, Major UN Audu (rtd) said, “The government
of this [country] doesn’t value what she has, so those who have seen the impact of Nigerian teachers in their education have come to recruit them. Trust me, Nigerians will go in great numbers. And this will really decimate the teaching force of our nation, which is caused by
our politicians who are more interested in winning elections, and grab powers but have no interest in the development of the national capacity.
Mr G. Odogwu, a public relations consultant and journalist, said,
“This is not just braindrain, it is economic sabotage, because most of the teachers were trained in Nigerian public schools at subsidized fees by the government. So, after investing in these human capacity, the government loses its investment to a foreign nation, it’s a sabotage. The UK then reaps where it did not sow.
A student at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Kuje Mercy, said, “Many people are ignorant of the gains of the planned recruitment. UK did not say the teachers are going to their country as British citizens. They are still Nigerians. When they retire, they are coming back to Nigeria with a wealth of experience. After all there are tens of thousands of unemployed graduates in Nigeria.”
Dr Fellina Nwadike, a distinguished academic at Admiralty University
of Nigeria in Ibusa, Delta state, asked, “Please what grades of
teachers are being recruited? “First, education is a fundamental human right. The world is shrinking, to a global village.
Second, nobody should be restricted to travel anywhere around the world, as long as the one has the right documents to travel.
“Third, if the advert is real, UK government knows that it is election month, coupled with all kinds of atrocities, challenges and political vices spreading in the country currently, people might use that opportunity to escape.
“Fourth, our system of education is in shambles across the country.
Nowhere is safe for children, women and youths.
“Fifth, The government may be aware as long as the information is from UK. They maybe in alliance. Please try to interview them. Maybe this is a source of escape for their families and friends.
“Sixth, for nine months there was no university education. Learning is a child’s play in the country. Those private school officials are
making money in disguise pretending to be teaching, with immoral behavours. Like medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc, recruited by other European nations, so would teachers. People are looking for a safe
heaven.”
Dr Jatau Noma, Director, FCT UBEB said, “I don’t know anything about this”.
Proprietor, Milestone Kids Academy in Nasarawa, Dr Bayode Oluwatoyin said, “This will cause a great damage to the education sector as the state of education in Nigeria is appalling. Its decadence is widely indescribable yet the only few outstanding ones will soon be carted away by a nation that gives credence to value. This action might leadto brain drain and will leave lasting adverse effects.”
Dr David Ejima of the University of Abuja said, “Government is aware,
and not happy but there is nothing they can do. There is an existing
bilateral relationship that allows transfer of technology, of which we are one of the beneficiaries. We may go there as expatriates.
Although, I don’t know the condition of the offer.
“The government cannot come out openly to stop this move, after all,
we have many qualified but unemployed teachers. Even those employed are underutilised.
Sani Supah, a member of All Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools finds nothing wrong about the recruitment. He asked, “What is wrong in going to UK to teach? Why wouldn’t I go to work in a
country which values the worth of my professional calling? Let me tell you, you are just making your noise. This is a bilateral agreement between nations. UK and Nigeria are in the Common Wealth, remember. It is good for Nigerian teachers. If I have the opportunity, I will go with all my immediate family members
Peter Okpomu, NUT member, Mararaba, Abuja suburb,
said it is now teachers that is why everybody is asking why? Are the
nurses and the doctors in US, Canada and UK less important than teachers? In this country, it is assumed that teachers do not deserve a better life.”
UK’s new partnership with Nigeria
It is important to note that the UK is forging ahead with new
partnerships as part of its international education strategy.
Following the UK-India Enhanced Trade Partnership, it is now clear
that Nigeria will be next in line for a deeper bilateral partnership
led by the Department for International Trade.
Nigeria, like India, represents one of the most populous Commonwealth countries where wider trade alliances can be brokered post Brexit.
The UK delegation to Nigeria
The UK Government International Education Champion, Prof. Sir Steve Smith, had led a high-level education policy delegation from the UK to Nigeria between 16 and 20 May, 2022. They met with partners and stakeholders from across Nigeria’s education sector in Abuja and Lagos, to build on existing efforts to strengthen the UK’s education partnership with Nigeria and in particular in the area of TransNational Education (TNE). The TNE is an education delivered in a country other than the country in which the awarding institution is based, for example, students based in country X can study for a degree in university in country Y. The UK is one of the world’s major providers of TNE.
During the academic year, 2020/21, Nigeria hosted 5,515 UK HE TNE students and the UK is aiming to grow this number.
As one of the world’s leading providers of TNE partnerships, the UK is looking forward to expanding its global network of TNE partnerships in Nigeria. The visit of Sir Steve Smith and his delegation demonstrates the importance placed on ensuring that the UK is well positioned to work increasingly closely with Nigeria to help expand
its higher education sector, improve opportunities to upskill students and provide wider access to education for all Nigerians.
During their visit, the high-level delegation also met with the
Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund),
Sonny Echono. UK has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) that will improve collaboration between both organisations and increase exchange programme opportunities.
Whilst in Abuja, the delegation met with the Chief of Staff to the
President of Nigeria, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, and discussed how to formalise collaboration to enable high quality transnational education partnerships with the UK and improve access to education for all children, especially girls.
The British Council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Universities Commission (NUC) at NUC headquarters on TNE, to improve access to online education opportunities for Nigerian
students. The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed and Vice Chancellors of Nigerian universities attended the signing.
At the end of the visit, Sir Steve Smith said:
“This has been an incredibly fruitful visit, and we have received a warm and hugely supportive reception throughout. I am incredibly excited at the prospect of cementing a sustainable, ambitious and equitable bilateral relationship in the crucial area of Higher Education TNE partnerships with Nigeria. At the behest of the President’s Chief of Staff, and the Chief Economic Advisor to the President, we have laid the foundations of a Joint Working Group, to build on progress made and I am looking forward to returning to Nigeria later this year with a selection of world-class UK universities, to explore mutually beneficial partnerships, that will enable a more diverse, and equitable outreach.”