World Teachers’ Day: Gov Abiodun employs 3000 teachers

Emmanuel Nlewedum, Port Harcourt with agency reports

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has approved the immediate employment of 1000 Ogun Teach Interns to mark this year’s World Teachers’ Day.
The gesture is meant to improve the pupil-teacher ratio and to fill the existing vacancies in public schools.
The governor also approved the engagement of 2,000 new OgunTeach applicants to the already engaged 2000 interns as well as a bungalow and cash prizes to teachers who did the State proud in the course of discharging their duties.
Prince Abiodun disclosed this at the 2023 World Teachers’ Day celebration with the theme: “The Teachers We Need for Education We Want; the Global Imperative to Reverse Teachers Shortage,” held at the Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The governor said the appointment of the new teachers takes immediate effect, adding that the administration is doing everything possible to improve the lots of teachers.
He said: “It is my great joy to announce to you that Ogun State will be having an education summit soonest, for cross-fertilizing ideas by critical stakeholders in the sector, to proffer workable solutions to how to improve our education sector beyond this point and institutionalize the desired excellence in all our schools in line with the dreams of our founding fathers.
“To complement this initiative, we will be inaugurating an education trust fund to fund education infrastructure across the various levels. Also, a special committee on the rehabilitation of public schools to complement SUBEB’s interventions will be inaugurated soon.”
The governor reiterated his administration’s high premium on the welfare and wellbeing of teachers just as it continues to prioritise education to be in the first line charge in expenditure for the state and in all the local governments to bridge the gap of deficit in the sector.
While reeling out some achievements in the education sector, Governor Abiodun said his administration has embarked on the training of 750 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers in a new teaching pedagogy called PSI-PMI to suppress the conventional approach of teaching, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.
To encourage teachers to perform optimally, the governor said he has directed the release of promotion letters for 2021-2022, two months of leave bonuses for public servants, and N10,000.00 payments to all public servants and pensioners in the state.
“Our government also procured and installed the Education Management Information System (EMIS) equipment and gadgets to aid data collection, collation, and analysis in the education sector across the 20 LGEAs, among many interventions to prepare our students to compete with their peers around the world and also provide an enabling and conducive working environment for our teachers to contribute their best.”
He emphasized that as a responsive government, it is convinced of the need to better the lots of teachers to compensate for their selfless contributions to the upliftment of society, as the future of the children depends on the level and quality of their productivity.
While stressing the need to address the shortage of teachers in Nigeria’s education sector and that of the sub-Saharan Africa, the governor quoting data from the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said 69 million teachers are needed mostly from sub-saharan Africa to reach universal basic education by 2030, while additional 24.4 million teachers in primary education and some 44.4 million teachers in secondary education are needed to achieve universal basic education by 2030.
“According to the data unveiled for 2022 World Teachers’ Day, 5.4 million teachers are needed at the primary level in sub-Saharan Africa and 11.1 million teachers at the secondary level if we are to achieve the targets set by the 2030 Agenda,” he added.
In his welcome address, the Special Adviser to the governor on Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu described teachers as great patriots who are in the business of molding young minds, appreciating them for their efforts in maintaining the State’s standard of education.
In his goodwill message, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Abiodun Akinola, lauded Governor Abiodun for keeping fate with the annual event and for sustaining the Excellency Awards for best teachers and school administrators in the state, calling on the government to employ more teaching staff to reduce the workload of the existing ones.
Meanwhile, the State Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUS), Comrade Felix Agbesanwa on his part stated that Nigeria and the world at large is facing the challenge of unprecedented shortage of teachers, adding that this year’s celebration was to stop the decline in the number teachers and to showcase practice that would attract, retain and motivate those in the teaching profession.
Agbesanwa commended the Governor for implementing five years of promotion in four years for workers in the state, and for abolishing all levies in schools as well as initiating through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, various policies and interventions geared towards increasing students Higher Education Potential in the state.
Highlights of the occasion was the presentation of keys of 2-bedroom bungalows to Mr. Akeem Badru, the first African winner of the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher’s Award and the best overall Teacher in public primary school from Egba Division, Mr.Togbe Ganiyu.
Others were cash prizes of N2 million to Mr. Amosun Temitope Olaoluwa as best teacher in junior secondary school from Remo, N2 million for Mr. Ganiyu Wasiu, as best teacher, senior secondary school category from Egba Division.
Ajayi Abosede emerged the best primary school administrator from Egba division with a cash prize of N1 million, Samza Omolara from Ijebu Division emerged the best school administrator in junior secondary school, while Kusimo Oluseyi was adjudged the best administrator in senior secondary school from Egba division with N1 million.
Baptist High School (Junior), Saje, Abeokuta, emerged the best in public secondary school and took home N7.5 million, followed by Remo Secondary School (Senior), Sagamu, which also went home with N7.5m.
Angela Otabo from Egba Division went home with N500,000 having emerged the best teacher in the private school category.

Obaseki commends Edo teachers, adds extra half-month bonus to 13th month salary

In a related development, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has promised to pay teachers in the State an extra half-month bonus in December, in addition to the 13th-month salary to be paid to all workers in the State, as part of gifts to celebrate the teachers on the occasion of this year’s World Teachers’ Day.
Obaseki made the promise while addressing the teachers during an event to mark the day in the State, with the theme, “The teachers we need for the education we want,” held at the Conference Hall of Teachers House in Siluko Road, Benin City.
Commending the teachers for their role in societal development, Obaseki promised to ensure better welfare for the teachers, providing them with the skills, tools, and other incentives to effectively deliver on their roles in society.
The governor said: “Teachers say I should give them palliative or gift for today. I have already promised all workers in Edo State that you will get your 13th month salaries this year. What I will add as a gift to celebrate the teachers because of the World Teachers Day celebration is that all the teachers will get an additional half-month bonus.”
Acknowledging the teachers for supporting the government’s reforms in the education sector, which has made Edo a model State in tackling learning poverty, the governor noted, “With the transformation we have taken in basic education, Edo is now a model to be copied globally as the world is asking us how we did it. I tell them anywhere I go that my teachers are the ones who did it.
“Edo children are no longer known for learning poverty. The world is talking about EdoBEST. Learning poverty is when a child that is up to 10 years old can’t read a complete sentence or write. We say such a child is suffering from learning poverty.
“As a government, we owe our teachers in the State and are grateful to them for what they are doing for the future of Edo State as the children they teach are the future of the State. Our teachers are building the future of Edo State, which is human resources.”
He continued:  “I recall in 2018, I told the teachers that we have to do something and transform the education sector in Edo. But the problem we had in the past was that of trust because of failed promises over the years.
“But in six years, my administration has been able to build trust which is the foundation of anything in life. With trust, we have changed the landscape of education in Edo State. We still have challenges and problems to solve but they are not unique to us. We have done our best to improve in the sector.
“Teachers are the anchor of EdoBEST reforms. You have done well for our children and the reforms are far-reaching as people are coming into the State to learn how we did it. Our doors are open for them to learn how we have achieved what we have achieved.”
Describing the theme of the celebration as apt, the governor further stated, “We believe we have already started grooming the teachers we want that will help us fulfill the educational vision we want for our future leaders.
“We have equipped our teachers in the basic schools with technological devices to enhance teaching. We have laid 2,000km of fiber optic connection across the local governments in Edo State and our plan is to connect every school and empower more teachers to give better education and information to our students.
“We will build on what we have started and pray we get a successor that believes in education and the teachers to keep the sector moving.”
Noting efforts by the government to address teachers’ shortage, Obaseki said, “The EdoSTAR programme was started to discontinue the situation where just anybody teaches our children rather than trained teachers.
“Today we have 4,500 fellow star teachers and we pay them N40,000 and observe them before finally recruiting them into the mainstream of the education sector. We will continue to address the issue of insufficient teachers in our schools.”
On his part, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUJ), Edo State Chapter, Bernard Gbenga, said the World Teachers Day celebration is set aside yearly to celebrate, appreciate, recognize, and reward teachers for their contributions to the education sector and development of society.
He further commended the governor for prioritising the welfare of the teachers in the State, and taking deliberate steps to revamp and strengthen the education sector.

NUT decries deplorable state of schools in Rivers Communities

Similarly, the NUT, has decried the deplorable state of schools in rural communities in Rivers State.
The NUT Chairman in Rivers State, Comrade Collins Ebokwa Echikpu, made the call on yesterday during the 2023 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Port Harcourt with theme: “The Teachers we Need for the Education we Want; the Global Imperative to Reverse Teacher Shortage.”
Echikpu also called for employment of more teachers in the state by the Governor Siminalayi Fubara-led state government.
He said that the poor condition of schools in rural communities in the state is affecting learning process, and called for urgent attention by the Governor.
The State NUT boss however, hailed the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for his numerous innovative projects that are targeted at repositioning the education sector of the state.
He further called on the government to constitute Secondary Schools Board of the state in order to give opportunity for teachers’ employment and also domesticate the new retirement age of 65years approved by the federal government for teachers in the state.
His words: “Our governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, is a teacher friendly governor. The Nigeria Union of Teachers is also grateful to you for your prompt payment of teachers salaries.
“Teachers in Rivers State have no much complains this year, but there are issues that we need attention on. We wish to inform you that schools in rural communities are in deplorable condition and it is affecting teaching and learning.
“We urge that the process of employing more teachers should be completed because our classrooms are empty. We also call on you to constitute the Secondary Schools Board to achieve employment of more teachers.
“We plead with you that based on the importance of role of teacher to approve the new retirement age in Rivers State as a further step of motivation.
“Promotion and issuance of promotion letters and ensure it financial implications. Many have received their promotion letters and are enjoying it, while many others have not been promoted. We call on you to hasting up the process of their promotion.
Responding, the representative of the state government and Commissioner of Education, Prof Chinedu Mmom promised that the present administration would continue to prioritize the welfare of teachers in the state, noting that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has keen interest in education.
He said the government has begun renovation and remodeling of schools in the state, adding that the state government has invested billions of naira in the process.
He said: “The governor has great passion and interest in teachers. All the teachers expect some that maybe because of documentation error, but by the end of this month you payment will come.
“I want to assure you that the government led by His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara will continue to prioritize the welfare of teachers. The government of the day is the government of consolidation and has high premium in education, that is the reason for the renovation and remodeling of our schools.”
Mmom said the state was up to date with the payment of teachers’ salaries, adding that the state approved free registration for student seeking to sit in for Basic Education Certification, Juniors WAEC, and Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, including West Africa Examination Certificate and National Examination Council, NECO.