By Fatima Sadiq
An advocate for children’s rights and education in Gombe state, has said there is a dire need for improved infrastructure and social amenities, to retain teachers in rural areas across the country.
The founder of Advocacy for Children’s Right Initiative, a non governmental organization, and Director of Legal Affairs for the Association of NGOs in Gombe State, Barrister Matha Daniel emphasized that the lack of basic infrastructure, such as classrooms, toilets, and access to clean water, is a significant deterrent for teachers in rural areas.
Barrister Matha Daniel acknowledged the impact of government and individuals in providing both structural and human resource in the education sector in the urban centers But lamented poor retention of teachers in most rural areas which she attributed to lack of social amenities and good incentives.
She suggested Key Areas for Improvement such as Infrastructural Developments, providing opportunities for professional development, career advancement, and performance-based rewards.
Research has shown that monetary incentives can play a crucial role in attracting and retaining teachers.
Additionally, providing social amenities such as shopping venues and housing can also help to address the challenge of teacher retention in the rural areas.
Barrister Daniel added that government and the public must prioritize the needs of rural teachers by focusing on building good schools, proving Access to clean water, sanitation, electricity, rural allowance, provision of land allocations for farming and health care facilities, to create a more supportive and inclusive environment ultimately benefiting the students and communities they serve.
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