The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has rained encomiums on President Boka Tinubu for giving the green light to hire 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers for Federal Unity Colleges, saying the move is a defining action that reflects the President’s dedication to upgrading Nigeria’s education system and securing the country’s future.

In his view, the approval marks one of the boldest steps by the Tinubu Administration to close the persistent teacher gap in Federal Unity Colleges.

He said it also acknowledges the loyalty and long service of thousands of PTA teachers who have kept classrooms running nationwide.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by Special Adviser Media and Communications to the minister, Ikharo Attah. The statement said:

“The President has endorsed the recruitment exercise. First consideration will go to verified PTA teachers, many of whom have worked in our Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges for nearly 25 years. This decision now gives them a pathway into the core federal civil service.”

Dr. Alausa framed the development as a key achievement under the Renewed Hope Agenda’s ongoing overhaul of education noting that the recruitment will help balance the teacher-to-student ratio in Unity Colleges and recognize educators who have sustained quality teaching despite years of job insecurity.
The minister said that the approval came after a full-scale audit carried out by an Inter-Ministerial Committee. The panel vetted eligible PTA teachers across all Federal Unity Colleges and confirmed 3,252 teachers in three categories: Education Officers, Assistant Education Officers, and Technical Instructors. He expressed optimism that their formal absorption into service will proceed once all required legal and administrative steps are completed.

Alausa added that integrating seasoned educators into the federal workforce will help retain critical institutional experience, raise classroom standards, and boost learning results in Unity Colleges, stressing that the exercise aligns with the Federal Government’s wider plan to elevate teacher quality and restore the colleges as hubs of academic excellence.

He further reaffirmed that the Federal Ministry of Education will partner with relevant government bodies to finalize the outstanding statutory procedures needed for the official recruitment clearance, in line with existing public service rules.

The Federal Government has directed vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts across the country to dismiss any student found guilty of kidnapping or related criminal activities after a thorough investigation.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, gave the directive during a meeting with the management of the Federal University of Lafia in Abuja.

He said students involved in kidnapping have no place in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, stressing that campuses must not become safe havens for criminals.

The minister also instructed heads of tertiary institutions to strengthen internal intelligence systems and work closely with the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to improve campus security.

Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s policy that no government institution should negotiate with or pay ransom to kidnappers, warning that doing so encourages criminal activities.

He further announced that the Federal Government will support security projects in tertiary institutions through the TETFund 2027 intervention programme, including perimeter fencing and other security infrastructure.

The minister also restated the government’s commitment to expanding the Energising Education Programme to improve electricity supply in tertiary institutions across the country.

The Bayelsa Educational Development Fund (EDTF) on Tuesday commenced a four-day training programme to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics.

Speaking at the opening ceremony in Yenagoa, Mr George Ombe, who represented the Executive Secretary of EDTF, described mathematics as the foundation of science, engineering, medicine, agriculture and technology.

He said the programme was designed to equip 123 teachers drawn from the state’s eight local government areas with innovative teaching strategies using the Mathific digital learning platform.

He explained that the platform was built on conceptual understanding, critical thinking, personalised learning, meaningful context and learner engagement rather than note memorisation.

According to him, participants will gain access to more than 2,000 curriculum-aligned learning activities and digital tools for monitoring students’ progress and improving classroom instruction.

He urged the teachers to apply the new knowledge in their classrooms, noting that meaningful change depended on their willingness to embrace innovative teaching methods.

Ombe said the training reflected the state government commitment to strengthening human capital development through continuous teacher capacity building.

He explained that the programme followed a similar training recently organised for English Language teachers, assuring participants that EDTF would monitor the impact of the exercise in schools.

Declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Gentle Emelah, urged the teachers to embrace continuous learning to improve the quality of education in the state.

Emelah said mathematics remained one of the most important subjects because it equipped learners with problem-solving skills needed for everyday life and future careers.

He encouraged teachers to make mathematics lessons more engaging and friendly, saying many pupils developed fear of the subject because of poor teaching approaches.

The commissioner urged participants to take advantage of the training to inspire confidence in learners and help them overcome their fear of mathematics.

Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of the Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board, Dr Stella Ugolo, described mathematics as the foundation of innovation and national development.

Ugolo said the world was becoming increasingly digital, stressing that teachers must continually update their knowledge to remain relevant in modern classrooms.

She described the 123 participants as fortunate to be the first beneficiaries of the programme and urged them to maximise the opportunity.

According to her, the new digital teaching approach will replace fear with confidence, making mathematics more attractive and easier for pupils to understand.

She commended the Bayelsa government and EDTF for investing in teacher development, and expressed optimism that the training would improve learning outcomes across the state.

Earlier, Mr Ali Munhamin the representative of Mathific Pedagogy Academy who is the resource person said that the capacity building programme aimed to equip teachers with game based innovative digital tools to enhance their work.

He explained that the new training methodology would improve learning by making children to learn in a friendly atmosphere.

Further more, Dr Alice Atuwo, Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF noted that the teachers would be provided with tablets with educational applications to assist teachers who were expected to continue the training online for the next one year.

The training is being organised in collaboration with the Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board (TTRCB) and Australia’s Mathific Pedagogy Academy.

Atuwo assured that the EDTF would continue to follow up the progress of the teachers as well as monitor outcome.