The Federal Government of Nigeria Npower scheme are considering extending the services of the N-teach Batch C Stream 1 Beneficiaries.
It would recalled that the names of the successful shortlisted candidates on Stream 1 were out for fingerprint and biometrics verification and expired on June 6, 2021. Before the start of the Npower batch C program, Npower management stated unequivocally that the Npower 2020 program would last only 12 months.
The Npower batch C stream 1 Programme was launched in August 2021, and beneficiaries began working in September 2021. According to this, the batch C1 program is scheduled to end in September 2022.
Meanwhile, according to a statement from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, the Federal Government are considering the extension of the N-Teach Batch C Stream 1 N-Power beneficiaries which was scheduled to end in September 30th, 2022.
The Minister requested that the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) support the Npower Batch-C Stream 1 N-teach Beneficiaries and ‘encourage as many qualified and willing graduates to enrol in the teaching profession as possible.’
This online news medium understands that the Minister made this known when she received the leadership of the NUT in Abuja, on Friday.
The Minister acknowledged that Nigeria had a deficit of teachers, which President Buhari’s administration had been addressing through the N-Power Teach Volunteers scheme under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).
She added: ‘‘We have created a dedicated platform under the National Social Investment Programme called N-Power Teach, which engages qualified graduates to man the gaps of basic education delivery in Nigeria.
‘‘These N-Power Teach Volunteers are deployed as teacher assistants in primary schools across Nigeria to support existing teachers.
‘‘The aim of this, and many other Government programmes, is to increase the teacher-student ratio at the primary school level thereby enhancing the quality of students moving to secondary schools.
I want to take this opportunity to ask all members of Nigeria Union of Teachers to support these programmes and encourage as many qualified and willing graduates to enrol in the teaching profession.’’
While describing teaching as one of the noblest professions, Sadiya told the delegation led by the union’s National President, Comrade Nasir Idris, that “it shapes the character, calibre, and future of individuals and nations.” Teachers shaped our personalities and influenced our futures. “No price is too high for good rewards.”
The Minister also took the opportunity to thank teachers, noting that they had been at the forefront of developing young minds to be innovative and inventive.
Today, we live in a dynamic world where science and technology drives innovations that virtually touch every aspect of our lives.
‘‘The foundations of today’s changes can be attributed to teachers who, decades ago, in one way or another, shaped the minds of young men and women who eventually grew to become global innovators and inventors from whose works we are benefiting today.
‘‘Nigerians, both at home and abroad, are part of this global breed of impactful change agents.
‘‘Almost everyday, Nigerians are inventing new products or improving existing ones. It is, therefore, our collective duty to continue to encourage and cultivate these minds, by increasing resources available for research and development and improving work environment,’’ she said.
Why N-teach Beneficiaries Should Be Retained
As federal government planned to disengage 510,000 Npower Batch C Stream 1 beneficiaries after they have exceeded the duration of their appointment. The federal government planned to disengage batch” C Stream 1 Beneficiaries by September 30, 2022 while Batch C Stream 2 will be enrolled after Batch-C1 disengagement.
Considering the significant impacts of these beneficiaries across various sectors in the country, particularly the education sector. Instead of disengagement with no visible plan, the beneficiaries deserve to be applauded and given more opportunities in various public sectors to contribute to the development of our great nation.
Although all of the beneficiaries have excelled in their respective fields, the impact of the N-teach beneficiaries in public primary and secondary schools across the country is incalculable; in fact, they are nation builders.
Given the low number of teachers in all public primary and secondary schools across the country, I believe the best option for the government is to integrate these beneficiaries into the teaching profession. However, some wise state governors have done so in their states after seeing the positive outcomes of previous Batch A&B N-teach beneficiaries’ contributions in their states.
Disengaging N teach beneficiaries may be a major setback for the education sector, resulting in a low education standard in the country, and education is the foundation of national development. The government should reconsider.
