By Abasi Ita
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has urged State Governments to deepen their collaboration with development partners as part of a broader effort to revitalise the nation’s public primary school system.
Alausa made the call on Friday in Ikom, Cross River State, during the induction of 56 volunteer teachers trained by Save the Children International (SCI) from Akwa Ibom and Cross River States into the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) with funding from Global Partnership for Education..
He stressed that enhanced partnerships are crucial to restoring public confidence in basic education, particularly in communities facing acute teacher shortages.
Represented by senior ministry official Godwin Odey, the Minister commended SCI for its timely intervention through the training and certification of volunteer teachers, noting that the effort complements ongoing government reforms aimed at improving learning outcomes.
“This programme is helping us rebuild public confidence in basic education. Save the Children has stepped in where the needs are greatest, and the impact is already visible,” he said.
In her remarks, Emily Ekott, speaking on behalf of the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Education, praised the organisation for embedding child protection and quality assurance principles into its training model.
She maintained that sustained collaboration between government and development partners remains key to achieving meaningful transformation in the sector.
“What SCI is doing goes beyond recruitment. They are equipping these volunteers with the skills, values and confidence needed to positively shape the future of our children,” she stated.
Also speaking, the Education Secretary for Ogoja, Ernest Otong, who represented the Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Stephen Odey, acknowledged SCI’s consistent support to schools across the state. He said the new volunteers would help close long-standing manpower gaps that have hampered learning in many communities.
“Our schools have struggled with inadequate manpower for years. With this intervention, alongside the ongoing recruitment drive of the state government, learning can now take place more effectively. The difference will be felt immediately,” he said.
Earlier, Education Coordinator of Save the Children International, Oyeniyi Omopariola, said the certification exercise was a strategic investment in human capital and a step toward improving teaching quality in disadvantaged communities. He called on State Governments and Universal Basic Education Boards to prioritise the recruitment and deployment of the newly certified teachers to sustain the gains of the Global Partnership for Education project.
During the induction, the Director of Certification and Licensing at TRCN, Abimbola Okunola, administered the oath of office and charged the new teachers to uphold professional ethics as they begin their careers. He noted that the partnership among TRCN, SCI and the Global Partnership for Education remains a reliable model for expanding access to quality learning in hard-to-reach areas.
Responding on behalf of the inductees, Regina Kekong expressed appreciation to Save the Children for the opportunity and the intensive training they received in pedagogy, classroom management, child safeguarding and modern teaching techniques.
She assured that the volunteers would work diligently to improve learning outcomes in the schools where they will be deployed.
Community representatives also commended the initiative, describing it as a dependable support mechanism that should be expanded.
They encouraged government agencies, private organisations and development partners to intensify collaboration with Save the Children International to guarantee long-term sustainability.