Abuja- The Federal Government on Tuesday said that it would honour deserving teachers, who excelled in their profession with a President’s Teachers and School Excellence Award.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruquayyatu Rufa’I, stated this in Abuja at a news conference on the upcoming 2012 World Teachers Day celebration and award entitled: “’Take a stand for Teachers”.

The World Teacher’s Day is celebrated worldwide on Oct. 5, of every year.

Rufa’I said that the theme of this year’s celebration was well thought-out because Nigerian teachers were yet to be given their due recognition.

“Every other professional is a product of the teaching profession, teacher is the producer of every other professional who brings development and yet they are unseen in developmental process.

“As Nigerians, we must take a stand for the teacher and as people in government we also must stand up for the teacher,” the minister said.

She appealed to all stakeholders in the education sector to take a stand for the Nigerian teachers through motivation, training and provision of welfare packages for hardworking and committed teachers.

Rufa’I said that the Ministry of Education acknowledged the efforts of governments at all levels, the NUT, UNESCO and other stakeholders in promoting the course of education.

“It is hoped that the current provisions and awards for teachers would serve as the platform for positive change in the welfare of teachers, teaching profession and the education sector in Nigeria.

“I felicitate with the Nigeria Teachers, who over the past decades, have been committed to the teaching profession in spite of several challenges.

”I acknowledge the essential roles of teachers in proving relevant and appropriate education, which serves as the springboard for training of our children, young people and adults in the society.

”It is therefore, necessary to honour and appreciate deserving teachers,” she said.

The minister commended the media for its reportage of the educational sector and urged journalists to provide extensive coverage for the upcoming event.

Earlier, Mr Michael Olukoya, the National President of the National Union of Teachers, commended the Minister of Education for her efforts and collaboration on teachers’ issues.

He said that in spite of the collaboration and partnership, there were still challenges that affected teachers nation wide.

Olukoya said such challenges included the non-implementation of the 27.5 per cent allowance for its members.

”If not for the intervention of the minister and the Minster of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, teachers nationwide would have been on strike over the non-implementation of teacher allowance of its members,” he said.

He also commended the efforts of the minister in seeing that teachers in Unity collages were unionised with the NUT at the national level. (NAN)