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Maths and science teachers from Nigeria

Many South Africans dread the early morning news; it is not easy to take bad news every morning with the first cup of coffee. For many still reeling from the debacles with Eskom, Armscor and Caster Semenya, as well as the national anthem fiasco, to name but a few, it was a relief to hear that a decision was taken to scrap the discredited outcomes-based education (OBE) concept – or just about.

It was clearly not an easy decision. It is never easy for any government, including South Africa’s, to admit a mistake – more so when it was forewarned. No wonder that the admittance was followed by carefully crafted statements by the responsible minister and other senior Education officials.

But the government’s decision, despite the damage caused by OBE, should be applauded. The relief is collective with the knowledge that in future, the learners will once again be properly taught to count, multiply, divide, subtract, and that the periodic table will be displayed in its rightful place in the classroom.   

There is, however, a problem. There is a shortage of teachers to teach these basic skills. Bogged down by the challenges of trying to make OBE work and unnecessary interference with the tertiary education over the last couple of years, contributed to a critical shortage of skilled teachers. 

Paltry remuneration, increasingly difficult circumstances under which teachers had to work, ill discipline among learners, substandard and overcrowded facilities and management and organisational shortcomings in the Department of Education on national, provincial and local level all added to the current lack of competent educators. Teaching as a profession has become less inviting, and the shortage of teachers in South Africa is critical.

Education authorities in South Africa are under immense pressure to deal with, and find solutions to a myriad challenges. One of the most critical is urgently to find enough skilled teachers to fill the shortages in certain subjects including maths and science.

With the attention focused on the timely demise of OBE, the Education authorities were quietly busy looking for solutions to problems caused by it. With no short-term solution in sight to address the shortage of skilled maths and science tutors, the South African Government had to look beyond the country’s borders and it seems to have found the answer in Nigeria. A recruitment drive is under way to sign up trained teachers from Nigeria to teach maths and science in South Africa on a three-year contract.

The quality of these Nigerian educators is not the issue, although it must be a concern despite the conditions laid down by the South African authorities for the prospective teachers.

Of major concern is how this situation was allowed to develop in the first place. Was it not foreseen? If not, then it is an indictment of serious negligence on the part of those responsible.

If so, why was nothing done to address the problem when it first was identified?

When one learns from the media that teachers are to be recruited from Nigeria – a country not internationally recognised for its exceptional and exemplary educational system – the question arises: What other options have been examined before deciding on such an extreme measure?

The choice of Nigeria for the recruitment is puzzling. The country boasts 103 universities and it is a fact that many graduates in Nigeria are unemployed. But the standard of many of its tertiary institutions is questionable, as even Nigerians will confirm.

South Africa and Nigeria recently agreed to improve bilateral relations and promote closer collaboration. As a result, a number of South African ministers and officials have visited Nigeria, with reciprocal visits from Nigeria. This may be the key to the expected appearance of Nigerian teachers in our classrooms.

There is little doubt that the recruitment quota will be met in no time. A better salary, better accommodation facilities and a better working environment will be irresistible to prospective teachers who are used to a worse situation in Nigeria.

The arrival of Nigerian trained teachers may, however, cause some anxiety among many South Africans. Their standard of training and tutoring is under suspicion. But they may still surprise – and hopefully they do – but at what cost to Nigeria?

The reaction in Nigeria to the news that teachers are to be recruited for South Africa is far from unanimous. Many Nigerians and some opposition parties are scathing in their criticism, blaming the Nigerian government for selling out and South Africa for poaching.

Allowing the recruitment of teachers is slammed as “downright sabotage” of Nigeria’s educational system which is already in a shambles. It is also described as  “unconscionable that the Nigerian government will be seeking to send qualified teachers, who are not even enough for Nigerian schools, to South Africa, with perhaps a better educational system and better results in similar examinations".

Reference is made to the fact that the rate of failure in maths and science in Nigeria is at an all-time high. Nigeria witnessed its worst results ever in the last National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.

In previous national examinations, result sheets in maths and English were also not particularly encouraging, due mainly to grossly inadequate quality and qualified teachers in particularly these two subjects.

This must be disturbing news to South Africans. Is the South African Government aware thereof?

Equally alarming is the message by Nigeria’s Education minister when he announced his government’s willingness to help with the recruitment of teachers. He explained that the South African educational system was in dire need of teaching personnel, particularly at the basic education level. He added that Nigeria decided to assist the South African Government in salvaging its educational system.

Not a very comforting thought, particularly coming from a foreigner! Was this the Nigerian minister’s own conclusion, or was he advised by his South African colleagues? Whatever the answer, it remains disturbing!

Exporting teachers
http://thenationonlineng.net/web2/articles/25829/1/Exporting-teachers/Page1.html

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