Kogi State Faces Teacher Shortage Crisis, Advocate Warns

Princ Bolarin Ogungbemi, an education advocate, raised concerns about a severe teacher shortage in Kogi State during a press conference in Lokoja. He emphasized that the education sector is facing a deficit of nearly 10,000 teachers, with the last significant recruitment occurring in 2014.

The Kogi State Science and Technical Education Teaching Service Commission identified a need for approximately 9,979 additional teachers, but only 3,979 were approved for recruitment by the previous administration, with only 200 eventually employed. Ogungbemi urged Governor Ahm Ododo to expedite the recruitment of the remaining 2,871 teachers.

He criticized the state government for its ongoing employment freeze and highlighted the dire situation in primary schools, where many are at risk of closure due to insufficient teaching personnel. Additionally, he addressed the recent abduction of examination officials in Dekina Local Government Area and called for a review of policies affecting private schools, which he argued disproportionately impact students.