Most Teachers Are Computer Illiterate, Says Anambra NUT Boss 

Raymond Ozoji, Awka

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Anambra state wing has insisted that teachers must acquire basic computer knowledge and skills to upgrade themselves in order to be in tandem with emerging trends in the teaching profession.

The union noted that computer literacy has become necessary for teachers at all levels of the teaching profession especially as the world is driven by technological innovations which makes it mandatory that teachers must equip themselves with requisite computer skills.

The state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in Anambra, Comrade Ifeanyi Ofodile, who harped on the need for teachers to get computer education at the World Teachers’ Day Celebration  in Awka, emphasized the need for teachers to make personal efforts to be computer literate as he observed that most teachers in the state were computer illiterate.

Ofodile is of the opinion that computer literacy is one of the prerequisites to ascertain a qualified professional teacher licensed to practise teaching in the country and that the regulatory body that issued such licence is the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

According to him, the theme of the 2018 World Teachers’Day Celebration was ‘The Right To Education Means The Right To A Qualified Teacher ‘ noting that the theme sought to draw public concern on the need to ensure that only qualified teachers who possess the prerequisites for teaching were allowed in the profession.

He said teachers in Anambra state have continued to enjoy a very cordial working relationship with the state government, the ministry of education, the commission, boards and various education departments and agencies as evident in the regular payment of monthly salaries and allowances, massive promotion of teachers, conducive school environment, regular training and retraining of teachers, to mention just a few of the benefits teachers enjoy in the state.

In spite of the foregoing, the state NUT boss also sought for the redress of some of the pertinent issues bedeviling the union namely employment of qualified teachers to fill existing vacant positions created by regular retirements and disengagement of teachers from service, upward review of impress to school heads, resumption of running cost to schools for the effective administration and management of schools, restoration of the union’s statutory position in the education ministry, commission and board as well as involvement of the union in the planning, execution and evaluation of teachers’ programmes and activities in the state.

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu told teachers that the state governor has approved the 2017 teachers’ promotion together with other incentives.

He said teachers occupied a vantage position and pride of place in the Obiano administration, pointing out that under the present state government schools in Anambra have witnessed great metamorphosis.

The SSG however encouraged teachers to obtain basic computer skills to make their jobs easier and more interesting.