Engineer Seyi Makinde’s government in Oyo State through its Commissioner for Education, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye has charged teachers in the state to key into the architecture plans of the administration to reform education sector.
Barr. Olaleye gave the charge during this year’s annual celebration of World Teachers’ Day held on Monday at Teachers’ House, Oluyole, Ibadan.
He described teachers as indelible artistic imprint of God on the universe who are supposed to be celebrated for their efforts in the lives of children.
“In education, a teacher is an indelible artistic imprint of God on the universe, so no matter his ethnic and religion lineages, his universal touch as loco parentis is celebrated as a source of passion to turn around a child in all aspects of the three domains.”
Barr. Olaleye explained that the vision, goals and mission of Governor Seyi Makinde to transform education sector warranted his move to recruit over 7,000 teachers, ensure regular payment of salaries, payment of teachers retirement gratuities, support senior school final year students with free UTME, WAEC SSCE compendium and free and intervention and extra moral classes, as well as conducting training for teachers for universal standard.
“To whom much is given, very much is required. You cannot but reciprocate the good gesture to the governor through your unflinching support, cooperation and dedication to the programmes of this present government.
“The laudable task of restoring, repositioning and transforming education must be collectively done by all. I want to appeal to all of you to key into the government’s resolve to bring back the lost glory by making our children excel in internal and external examinations, as well as in competitions,” Barr. Olaleye said.
In his welcome address, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Oyo State wing, Comrade Adedoyin Tojuade, assured the governor of continual support of his good policies to strengthen the sensitization and advocacy strategies and secure the commitment of all segments of the society and fast track the people-oriented programmes of government.
The NUT Chairman, while speaking on the importance of World Teachers’ Day, stated that the day is aimed at appreciating, assessing, improving, and drawing the attention of the public and government to the voices of the teachers on issues centered on education.
He commended the state Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde for being a listening governor by yielding to the yearnings of the NUT. “I, as the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Oyo State wing can categorically inform you all, that most of our voices as teachers have been heard by the present state Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde.
“In fact, this present administration under the able leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde has demonstrated to the entire teachers of Oyo State, that His Excellency is a staunch social democrat in ideology and practice as an uncommon phenomenon with an admixture of uprightness and resourcefulness.
“Payment of salaries and other welfare for teachers on 25th of every month, approval of fund for the payment of 2018 leave grant to primary school teachers, approval of fund for the payment of running grant to schools, the ongoing exercise of recruitment of teachers and approval for the reconstruction of NUT state Secretariat (Teachers’ House) road Network at Oluyole,” Tojuade added.
The NUT Chairman also appealed to the state governor to look into the issues of provision and even distribution of schools’ instructional material, expedite action on full integration of teachers on secondment into core service of TESCOM and recruitment of teachers in primary schools to boost the state government’s policy of free education programme.
The guest lecturer and NUT Deputy Secretary General, Wale Oyeniyi, while speaking on the topic, Teachers: Leading In Crisis, Reimagining The Future, stated that government and other relevant stakeholders must operate in line with International Labour Organization (ILO) and United Nations Economic, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommendations in relation to the welfare of education personnel.
His words, “the UNESCO Teachers Task Force has explained on what this duty of care means in the context of COVID-19 in a recent call action.
“That the government and other key partners to provide employment and wage, prioritize teachers and leaders’ health, safety and well-being, include teachers in developing COVID-19 or any future pandemic education responses, provide adequate professional support and training, as well as putting equity at the heart of education response,” Oyeniyi stated.
The event was attended by TESCOM Chairman, Pastor Akin Alamu, SUBEB Chairman, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, former NLC Chairman, Waheed Olojede among other dignitaries.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
