PALANG KASMI examines Plateau State’s renewed push towards digitising education and strengthening teacher professionalism through a new partnership involving UNESCO, the State Ministry of Education, and the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (PSUBEB), aimed at improving teaching standards, enhancing digital learning systems and establishing a more structured career path for teachers under the Revised National Teacher Policy (NTP) 2025
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in collaboration with the Plateau State Government, State Ministry of Education, and the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (PSUBEB), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and organised a one-day public presentation of the Revised National Teacher Policy (NTP) in Plateau State under the EU–UNESCO project: Education and Youth Empowerment in Nigeria (2nd Phase) Expand, Integrate and Strengthen Systems (EISS) to Build Teachers’ Capacity and Resilience.
The MoU is to promote teacher professionalism and digitisation of teaching and learning among teachers and schools in Plateau State in tandem with the newly reviewed National Teachers Policy (NTP) 2025.
The signing, which took place at the PSUBEB Resource Centre, Shehei Model School, Little Rayfield, Jos on May 19, 2026, was aimed at demonstrating commitment to implementing and monitoring the NTP at the state level.
The meeting also served to publicly present the NTP 2025 and its implementation priorities to education stakeholders, as well as promote collaboration and commitment towards effective execution of the policy.
During the programme tagged, ‘Education and Youth Empowerment in Nigeria (2nd Phase): Expand, Integrate and Strengthen Systems (EISS) to build Teachers’ Capacity and Resilience’, the state government also reaffirmed its commitment to actualising the implementation of the NTP on career progression for teachers.
In attendance were representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Plateau State and Federal Ministries of Education, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Civil Society Action Coalition on Education For All (CSACEFA), civil society organisations, school administrators from both public and private schools, teachers and other education stakeholders who are members of the State Project Steering Committee (SPSC).
Stakeholder commitment, digitisation drive
Representing the Commissioner for Education, Mr. Audu Alanjong, delivered the opening remarks on behalf of the ministry, commending UNESCO for its sustained partnership and commitment to the development and professionalisation of the teaching workforce in Nigeria.
He said the Revised National Teacher Policy represents a significant and timely intervention that will transform the quality, effectiveness and resilience of teachers across Plateau State, while positioning them to meet evolving educational demands of the 21st century.
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of PSUBEB, Hon. Builder Sunday Samuel Amuna, said UNESCO has remained a key partner to both the ministry of education and PSUBEB, adding that the refresher workshop and signing of the MOU present an opportunity for the government to strengthen implementation of educational policies and development programmes.
He disclosed that the programme commenced in 2024 and is targeted at enhancing teaching professionalism, with the aim of equipping teachers to meet contemporary educational challenges.
According to him, “Teaching and learning methods of today, the 21st Century cannot be the same as those of yester years, and so the teachers of the state have to be abreast with the demands of today in order to fit into the challenges of today else they will be left behind.”
Amuna assured UNESCO of the state government’s commitment to the project, stressing that Plateau State cannot afford to be left behind as a member of the global educational community. He said the MoU would strengthen teacher capacity and broaden knowledge in line with evolving teaching practices.
He further noted that Plateau State is already taking steps towards digitisation, including equipping classrooms with digital facilities to replace traditional chalk-and-board methods with smart teaching systems.
He said PSUBEB has also received 30 sets of smart boards to be deployed to five schools, six per school, adding that the state will also provide solar power support and modern pedagogical tools to enhance learning.
“We are also talking about introducing Computer Based Test (CBT) for our children in our schools and we need to start from the foundational level of education,” Amuna stated.
UNESCO perspective, professional standards, regulation
Programme Assistant at UNESCO, Miss Blinda Dung, said the signing of the MoU demonstrates the commitment of the state government to the project and to national education policy implementation at the state level.
Dung, who also served as a resource person, made presentations on the EISS project and the NTP. She explained that the National Teacher Policy, signed by the Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE), provides a comprehensive framework for the management, development and professionalism of teachers across all levels of education.
She added that the policy covers teacher education and preparation, recruitment, remuneration, career development, standards, school leadership, professionalism, gender equity, digital competence and monitoring and evaluation, with the FMoE and UNESCO jointly overseeing implementation in Plateau State.
She advised teachers to embrace emerging trends in teaching and learning, and to register with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) to obtain a professional licence.
Dung further emphasised the importance of digital integration in education, urging teachers to acquire relevant digital skills in line with global standards.
Regulation, professional accountability
In his remarks, the TRCN Plateau State Coordinator, Kabir Ibrahim, said almost 90 per cent of teachers in the state are already registered with the council.
He encouraged teachers to complete their licensing, proficiency and registration processes online, adding that the Plateau office remains available for assistance where challenges arise.
He also explained that the Teachers Investigative Panel (TIP) is in place to address misconduct, including cases such as gender-based violence, sexual molestation and harassment, ensuring discipline within the profession.
Outcomes, implementation framework
The event climaxed with the formal signing of the MOU by PSUBEB, UNESCO and representatives of the State Ministry of Education, signalling a commitment to institutionalise the partnership and establish a coordinated implementation framework for the Revised NTP across Plateau State’s education system.
Stakeholders also tasked relevant bodies, including TRCN, with enforcing disciplinary measures to sanitise the teaching profession and ensure full compliance with professional standards.
Participants further agreed to develop criteria and operational guidelines for the establishment of Collaborative Teacher Learning Teams (TLTs) and school clusters.
They also committed to clearly defining roles, responsibilities, and implementation timelines for schools within each cluster, while advocating for state-level sustainability measures, including the creation of a dedicated budget line for the implementation and monitoring of NTP and TLT activities in Plateau State.