The Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has said that employing 1,300 teachers to fill vacancies in more than 1,000 public primary schools in the state is “grossly inadequate.”

The union’s Chairman, Mr Segun Raheem, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Lagos that 1,300 teachers amounted to one teacher per school.

He was reacting to NAN’s findings in the Alimosho Local Government primary schools where most of the classes have no teachers.

“1, 300 (teachers) that is ongoing is for primary schools, not secondary schools.

“Even the 1,300, like we have said, we have over 1000 schools in Lagos.

“That is, we are (recruiting) 1300, the statistic is like one (teacher) to a school and of course, this is grossly inadequate

“We have over 1,000 schools in Lagos State, if you are now recruiting 1300 (teachers), the statistics is like one (teacher) to a school and this is grossly inadequate.

“In fact, between last year and this year, more than 2,000 teachers would be retiring in that sector.

“Even the 1,300 they are planning to recruit will not even be enough to replace those that are retiring between last year and this year.”

The chairman, however, appealed to the state government to recruit more teachers into the public primary and secondary schools so as to meet the UNESCO’s standard of 25 pupils to one class. (NAN)