THE state government has reiterated its determination to recruit more teachers into primary schools in the state in no distant time to address the issue of acute shortage of teachers in the sector.
Giving this assurance was the state’s Commissioner for Education, Professor Abdulwaheed Adelabu at the 2023 World Teachers’ Day celebration organised by the Oyo State Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to celebrate its members, held at the NUT (ENDWELL) Model College Sports’ Complex, Owode Housing Estate, Apata Ibadan.
The commissioner, represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr Adeniyi Olusanjo, also disclosed that three teachers from Oyo State won awards in various categories of the 2023 Presidential Teachers and School Excellence Awards at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
He said that the awardees were part of the winners drawn from different public and private primary and secondary schools across the country.
The awardees from Oyo State are Mr Babarinlo Samson Oluwaseun, Head Teacher, Methodist Basic School, Iseyin; Mr Amoo Joseph, Principal, Government College, Ibadan; and Mr Odejayi Olatunde Adedamilola, Proprietor, Second Home College, Olodo, Ibadan.
While applauding the efforts of teachers and the union in the state, he, however, tasked them to brace up by reciprocating the good gesture of the government in the discharge of their duties most especially in terms of attitude to work, comportment, manner of articulation while interacting with students, parents, colleagues and administrators, as well as showing empathy where necessary.
In his address, the NUT state chairman, Mr Ismail Raji said going by numerous indices, this year’s edition of the World Teacher’s Day in the nation was historical in its structure and design.
“The hardship inflicted on Nigerians through the removal of the subsidy by the Federal Government and its intended industrial actions by the organised labour have an adverse effect on the celebration. However, being resolute, we insisted that our day must be well celebrated” he said.
He commended teachers in the state for their doggedness and commitment towards the noble profession.
He also appreciated the state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, for his commitment toward the education sector in the state.
He, however, tasked the state government to recruit qualified and competent teachers to fill the vacancies in the primary schools across the state and to approve implementation of the 65/40 years teachers’ retirement Act 22, saying this arrest the brain drain in schools.
He also called for the approval of the payment of 2022 leave allowance to secondary school teachers and that of 2023 to all categories of teachers in the state; promotion and regularisation of the recently reinstated teachers of Ikere-Ekiti College of Education, as well as some primary school teachers who are already due for promotion to grade 16, among others.
The guest speaker at the occasion,Mr Olu Abiala, while speaking on the theme of the programme stated that the pivotal element in the success or failure of any and every innovation in education is the teacher.
“No nation ever grows above the happiness of its teacher and the quality of its education, he stressed.
He therefore noted that “to get the kind of quality manpower that is so necessary for the success of our schools and nation tomorrow, Nigerian must as a matter of urgency begin to invest today on teacher training, adequate working tools, provision of working environment and motivation of teachers with globally competitive wage emoluments.”
At the event, an award of excellence was presented to the CEO of Ilaji Hotel & Sports Resorts, Ibadan, Dr Dotun Sanusi,who doubled as the chairman of the occasion for his contribution to education in the state.
Among the education stakeholder who graced the occasion was the chairman, Oyo State Teaching Service Commission, Pastor Akinade Alamu, acting executive secretary, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs Olaide Ladipo; education secretaries; past NUT chairmen; permanent secretaries/tutor generals from the Ministry of Education, among others.
