….As shortage of teachers worries Stakeholders particularly in rural areas.
By: Promise Adagba
Shortage of qualified teachers at various public schools in Ondo State has remained a source of worry for stakeholders especially the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) as the global community celebrated World Teachers’ Day on Thursday 5th October, 2023.
This was the highpoint of the World Teachers’ Day Celebration held on Thursday at Aquinas College in Akure, themed; “The Teacher We Need For Education We Want: The Global Imperative To Reverse Teachers Shortage.”
ASUSS also demanded implementation of N35,000 wage award for teachers and workers of Ondo State to cushion the harsh effect of recently removed fuel subsidy.
Speaking at the celebration, the Ondo State Chairman of ASUSS, Comrade Tajudeen Olatunji Balogun, lamented that shortage of teachers has remained the topmost challenge facing the education sector in the State, urging the state government to address the situation.
Comrade Balogun expressed deep appreciation to the State government for approving new retirement age of 65 or 40years in service.
Comrade Balogun called for immediate recruitment of qualified teachers to enhance positive change in the society.
“The major challenge, we are facing topmost is the shortage of teachers in our schools, we want Government to employ more teachers so that we would be able to brace up and dish out what we ought to give to the students.
“There is no where you need about two hands and you have one and the situation would be smooth, but we have been trying our best to adjust to make sure we excel, even with the shortage of staff, our students are doing well and our teachers too, as we speak some of our teachers are in Abuja to receive a National Merit Awards for the job welldone”.
He expressed that the teachers also need to improve themselves into the digital world as the society is evolving.
“We have have been spending our money to equip ourselves digitally, the Ondo State Government has also provided resources to support us in this area.
The ASUSS Chairman added that there is a need to find solutions to the shortage of teachers in the rural Areas.
“The rural schools are finding it difficult to cope because teachers are moving from the rural areas to the urban areas, sometimes we have a situation where laboratory attendants are teaching in class which is ought not to be so.
“In a situation when We have more teachers in the city and few in the rural is something we want to find solutions to, it has really affected the students in the rural area, it has also discouraged children from going to school, we are appealing that Government should rise up and let us have more teachers especially in our schools in the rural”.
While calling on Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to effect new minimum wage payment for teachers as approved during negotiations between federal government and organised labour (NLC/TUC), the ASUSS Chairman said, the level of hardship among teachers occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal was too much, hence the need for the state government to start paying the additional wage without further delay.
Comrade Balogun said, “we want the Ondo State Government to do the same, as the workers minimum wages in the federal level has been increased, even the state can do more, we are hopeful that Mr Governor is looking toward that direction to put some increment to our wages.”
ONDO NUT CALLS FOR IMPROVED TEACHERS’ WELFARE
In an interview at the celebration, Comrade Victor Oladele Amoko, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) said the Government needs to address the working condition of the teachers, while he maintained that shortage of teachers would affect quality of education.
Comrade Amoko said, “the Government also need to address the poor working condition of our teachers, teachers need consistent training and robust salary, many young people have refused to pick a career in teaching because of the welfarism of those there have not be taken care of properly in the country, the salary received cannot longer meet the economic demands.
“To achieve the Education we want, Various Stakeholders must come together to improve the working condition of our teachers, we must ensure mentorship program, training and supporting the teachers in needs, we all have a role to play, it is a collective effort, let us work together to ensure that every child regardless of their location or background have access to quality education”.
The NUT Chairman who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), however commended Governor Akeredolu for his administration’s various policies especially the recent new retirement age.
The NUT Chairman said, “I hail our Governor for being a teacher friendly person, he has been showing deep concern to the welfare of our teachers, particularly to the Approval of extension of service year for our teachers, this has encourage us alot.
“We have teachers that are certified and qualified in Ondo State, and we have been receiving all our rights, all what we need is more qualified teachers,” Comrade Amoko said.
