The Federal Government has introduced a new National Teachers Policy and its implementation guidelines aimed at improving teacher quality, strengthening competencies and raising professional standards across the country.
The Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, presented the documents in Abuja. He also unveiled the national policy on Drug and Substance Abuse in Schools.
He explained that the new policies signal a shift from mere policy creation to actual implementation that can be measured across all states.
Alausa said the ministry has now adopted an eighty to twenty model that places more weight on execution. He noted that the policies will either upgrade existing ones or fill areas where there were no formal guidelines before.
He also appreciated development partners such as UNESCO and UNICEF for their support in the education sector.
According to him, policy work represents only a fraction of the task. He added that the commissioners of education in the states will drive the implementation while the federal government provides technical backing and necessary resources.
He said the new teachers policy is designed to strengthen teacher training, improve competencies and support continuous professional development.
The minister said the government has advanced the digitalisation of teacher training programmes and will soon introduce a digital platform for ongoing certification and development.
He added that all public school teachers are expected to be licensed by the Teachers Registration Council to improve learning outcomes.
Alausa also said the second policy document on Drug and Substance Abuse in Schools is meant to curb the growing rate of drug use among students in secondary and tertiary institutions.
He noted that this is the first time Nigeria is developing such a national policy with its guidelines. He explained that the document contains provisions for counselling and behavioural support but stressed that repeat offenders will face sanctions.
“We must protect our youth. Addiction destroys lives, and President Bola Tinubu believes strongly in the capacity of Nigerians,” he said.
The Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Lawal Olorungbebe, reaffirmed the commitment of state governments to full implementation.
He said many of the steps can be accommodated in the 2025 project plans of states that are still at the planning stage.
He assured that the commissioners are determined to ensure that every part of the policies is carried out.
He added that their approach will remain strategic and deliberate to achieve visible results across the country.
