The Oyo State Secretary, National Union Of Teachers, Comrade Oyelade has appealed to Nigerian Governments, particularly Oyo State government to give teachers enough quality instructional materials that can help to perform their function and that Teachers’ salaries should be paid as at when due. This is in the interest of the survival of the Nigerian Education system, This was declared at the Teachers’ House, Oluyole Estate, Ibadan during 2017 world teachers’ day on Thursday 5th October, 2017 under the Theme “Teaching in freedom, Empowering Teachers”.

He added that teaching is the mother of all other profession and teachers are molders as well as builders. He analyzed that the 2017 theme suggests that teachers deserve some level of freedom; some level of recognition, some level of security; appropriate remuneration and rewards corresponding to their humanitarian services that they are expected to render. Teachers matter should not be treated as inconsequential. Teachers should not be seen as objects of neglect, objects of discrimination, objects of starvation and objects of ridicule.

Comrade Oyelade observed that many school’s compounds are so porous and wear old looks. In some circumstances, lunatics are walking and habituating in the classroom where the teachers and pupils are expected to be working.  Many teachers do come to schools with ill-feelings and sober outlook and very low enthusiasm because their salaries and allowances are no longer paid as at when due, he lamented.

He added that international expectation is that 26% of annual budget of the nation should be allocated into the education sector of the economy but lamented that it is unfortunate that no State in Nigeria is allocating up to 10% of its annual budget into the educational sector. Oyelade suggested that all these shortcomings account for the situation of the State schools’ infrastructure turning dilapidated and decaying on daily basis. He urged the Government at all levels in Nigeria to address the needs of the teachers across the nation.

In his address, the Chairman of the occasion and the Executive Chairman of Oyo State Post Primary Schools Teaching Service Commission, Alhaji Ajibade appraised the theme of this year Teachers’ day celebration and underscored the idea that Government is essential to providing students with an education that inspires students imagination and curiosity and instills a lifelong love for learning. He charged the teachers must to uphold the freedom to teach in ways that would engage all students. He further emphasized that theme encouraged teachers to be free to advocate for the resources and support that their students and profession need. He advised that teachers should go through various platforms to be able to mobilize the communities officially in order to invest in the things that can assist the discharge of the duties in their various schools.

Ajibade added that the task of effective teaching falls on the teachers and the quality of education of a country is the direct reflection of the quality of its teachers. He noted that the School Governing Board (SGB) established by the government is aimed at providing useful leverage to empower the teachers to apply their ingenuity to compliment the dogged determination of Government to provide purposeful and quality education to the Students as well conducive environment to the teaching and non-teaching staff in various schools.

The Chairman also discloses that the commission has established a reward system whereby forthright and outstanding teaching and non-teaching members of staff would be recognized and appreciated annually. He agreed that there is an acute shortage of teachers, far from the required in the state but advised teachers to remain committed and dutiful in the discharge of their responsibilities. He urged teachers to put in their best to optimize the little resources of the State to achieve sterling performances and profound outcome of the students in national and international examination.

He applauded the teachers for the feat recorded in the last WAEC result that revealed a geometric progression from 21.61% in 2016 to 54.18% in 2017, this he claimed is the result of Teachers diligence and commitment. He finally urged teachers to see themselves as agents of change in all engagements at this critical time and divisiveness in our land. Also, teachers should be role models to the students by instilling in them, positive mindsets that will assist in sustaining individual and collective developmental goals, he asserted.

 

By ditsoft

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