As the world marked this year’s World Teachers’ Day, international education bodies have raised a serious alarm: the world is running dangerously short of teachers. According to UNESCO, UNICEF, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and Education International, the world will need an additional 44 million teachers by 2030 to meet the demand for quality education.
The groups described the situation as an “unprecedented crisis,” warning that the dream of universal education is now under threat. They revealed that over the last seven years, the number of teachers leaving the profession has doubled, resulting in classrooms being left empty and children being without teachers.
This year’s celebration, themed “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,” emphasises the importance of unity, mentorship, and teamwork among teachers and education leaders. UNESCO stated that solving the teacher crisis goes beyond employing more people; teachers must also be motivated, respected, and provided with better working conditions if education is to move forward.
In Nigeria, the teacher shortage is becoming a ticking time bomb. Across several states, teachers are groaning under poor salaries, delayed promotions, and weak welfare systems. To make matters worse, about 16 states have refused to implement the harmonised retirement age of 65 years, a policy approved by the Federal Government since 2021.
Comrade Sola Adigun, National President of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), described the situation as “painful and unfair.”
“It is shameful that after many promises, some governors still treat teachers like second-class workers,” he lamented.
Education experts say Nigeria’s shortage is exacerbated by poor recruitment, inadequate training, and overcrowded classrooms. A UNICEF report revealed that in some public schools, especially in the North-East, one teacher handles more than 100 pupils, a situation that makes effective learning almost impossible.
Education policy expert Dr Funmi Adedayo warned that no nation can build a strong future without properly caring for its teachers. Teachers are the backbone of national growth. If we neglect their welfare and training, we will continue producing half-baked students,” she said.
Additionally, Mrs Mary Udenta, a secondary school principal, called for regular training and mentorship for teachers. “You cannot expect miracles from overworked and underpaid teachers. Continuous learning and teamwork should be part of our education system,” she added.
As Nigeria joins the world to celebrate its teachers, the message is loud and clear — the teacher shortage crisis is not just about numbers, but about priorities. Without serious efforts from both the federal and state governments towards recruiting more teachers, improving their welfare, and providing better facilities, the dream of universal education by 2030 may never come true.
Leave feedback about this