By John Dike, Osogbo
As the world prepares to celebrate World Teachers’ Day on October 5, the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) has passionately called for collaboration among all stakeholders to rescue the country’s struggling education sector.
Speaking with reporters ahead of this year’s celebration, the National President of ASUSS, Comrade Sola Adigun, said the 2025 theme, “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,” highlights the urgent need for unity among teachers, government, parents, communities, and education authorities.
He said, “Teaching has never been a job for lone rangers,”
“The progress of a child depends not only on the teacher but also on the active involvement of parents, policymakers, communities, and government. True collaboration gives teachers a voice in shaping the future of education.”
Adigun commended the Federal Ministry of Education for including ASUSS in the expanded Governing Council of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). He also praised the tuition-free Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative as a successful example of policy-practice synergy.
States such as Ekiti and Bayelsa were also recognised for pioneering tuition-free technical education. Additionally, the union acknowledged state governments that respect teachers’ freedom to associate with ASUSS.
However, Adigun warned that despite some progress, major challenges still persist:
16 states are yet to implement the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022, despite court rulings.
The hurried rollout of the 9-year Basic Education Curriculum was criticised for lacking adequate teacher training and teaching materials.
Worsening issues such as examination malpractice, decaying infrastructure, poor teacher welfare, and insecurity in schools continue to affect learning outcomes nationwide.
“Ambition without preparation breeds failure. Where are the trained teachers? Where are the tools?” he questioned.
The ASUSS president called on states that have not yet established Senior Secondary Education Boards to do so immediately, alongside the recruitment of more qualified teachers and improved protection of teachers’ rights and welfare.
He also renewed the union’s long-standing demand for the release of ASUSS’s trade union certificate, which was approved 17 years ago but remains withheld.
Adigun reaffirmed the union’s full support for mandatory TRCN registration, stating that professional certification is key to enhancing both dignity and competence in the teaching profession.
In a strong concluding message, Adigun stressed that collaboration is the only way forward:
“Recasting teaching as a collaborative profession is not a slogan—it is a necessity. Together, we can fight malpractice, improve welfare, equip our schools, protect our children, and restore education to its rightful place of honour.”
World Teachers’ Day is observed annually on October 5 to celebrate the contributions of educators worldwide and raise awareness about the challenges facing the teaching profession. The 2025 theme focuses on collaboration as the cornerstone of progress in education.
