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There are more than 20,000 untrained teachers in public schools throughout the country, Deputy Education Minister for Instruction, Dr. Mator Kpangbai, has alarmed, saying the situation aggravated other serious challenges facing the public school system.

Despite a marginal improvement in the results of the 2012 WAEC Exams, Dr. Kpangbai, who did not explain how this huge number of untrained teachers was uncovered, said the Education Ministry is still faced with major challenges including the problems of unqualified teachers and shortage of adequate instructional books, equipment and other germane resources.

“Unlike the 2011 WAEC exams that recorded 68% passing level of students, overall results in 2012 show 5% improvement. This is a very good sign that the restructuring of our School curriculum is working well,” he told a regular press conference at the Information ministry last Friday.

“But in spite of this news, and unless we can have qualified people to take up teaching assignments in the rural areas, things will continue to be difficult because this sector alone has over 20,000 untrained teachers,” Dr. Kpangbai warned.    

Meanwhile, he disclosed that the education ministry has increased the salary of B.Sc. degree holders to US$300 and US$500 for those with master’s degrees as is providing housing for teachers assigned in rural areas as strategies aimed at improving instruction in the school system.