EU Launches Second Phase of Nigerian Teacher Training Program
EU Launches Second Phase of Nigerian Teacher Training Program
By AmforGod J. Olisa
The European Union (EU) has initiated the second phase of its education program, ‘Expand, Integrate and Strengthen Systems (EISS)’, designed to enhance the capacity of Nigerian teachers.
Building on the first phase, ‘Education and Youth Empowerment in North Western Nigeria’ launched in 2023, this new phase was announced at an event in Abuja. EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Samuela Isopi, represented by the EU’s Head of Human Development, Leila Ben Amor Mathieu, revealed that the combined funding for both phases totals 45.4 million Euros.
The EISS program will collaborate with six training colleges located in Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Katsina, Plateau, and Oyo. Ms. Isopi emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “Investing in teachers is investing in our collective future.”
She acknowledged the various challenges faced by teachers in Nigeria, from insufficient resources to the demands of adapting to rapidly changing educational environments. “The European Union has recognized, alongside the government, the critical need to support Nigerian teachers in their professional development and personal resilience,” she added.
UNESCO will oversee the implementation of the program.
UN Resident Coordinator Mohammed Fall praised Nigeria’s efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but expressed concern over the high number of inadequately trained teachers. He cited the UNESCO Global Report on Teachers 2023, which indicates that teacher attrition is a global issue, with primary education teacher attrition rates doubling from 4.6% to 9% between 2015 and 2022.
“Regardless of the country’s income level, and even remuneration, teachers are leaving the profession within the first five years of practice. We must halt this worrisome trend,” Fall urged.
