By CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE

Mrs Chinenye Chukwura, a primary school teacher at Obosi, Anambra state, has called on the government to improve the teachers' welfare condition, saying that teachers should be rewarded while they are alive, and not posthumously.

She made the remark while speaking to this journalist on the occasion of the commemoration of world teachers' day and the 60th anniversary of ILO/UNESCO recommendations concerning the status of teachers.

And the theme of this year's world teachers' day is "Sixty years of protecting the profession, advancing its status, and shaping our future."

Mrs. Chukwura said that our naira has lost its purchasing power, as a result of our depressed economic, which has increased the economic hardship of the common folks.

"The economy is biting hard, which causes prices of food commodities to rise, astronomically. And teachers buy goods, food commodities, and pay bills from their meagre salaries.

"Based on this bad economic situation obtaining in Nigeria, teachers' salaries should be reviewed upwards, periodically.

"And we should discard the saying, which says that 'teachers' rewards are in heaven, not on earth'," Chukwura said.

She also made the suggestion that the government should provide teaching aids and instructional materials to schools to enhance the teachers' performances while condemning parents and guardians who display aggressive behaviour towards teachers.

Also speaking to this journalist, a secondary school teacher, Ijeoma Ezeuno, who resides in Aguata, Anambra state, thanked God for giving her the opportunity to become a teacher

She expressed the hope that the Anambra state government would improve the welfare conditions of teachers in the state.

"I thank God for giving me the opportunity to become a teacher. I would like you to know that teachers are great people because all global personages underwent the tutelage of teachers.

"Although our salaries are meagre, I place my hope in God. And I believe that the welfare condition of teachers in Anambra state will be improved by the state government," Ezeuno said.

And a former school principal, Mr Nicholas Udeaja, said that teachers should be honoured, celebrated, and adequately remunerated as they impart knowledge to impressionable young people and help to mould their personalities.

•Chiedu Uche Okoye is of the Anambra state ministry of information and value reformation.