The efforts of the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration in the State of Osun at improving educational system across the state will yield positive results only when teachers see themselves as major stakeholders in the drive.
Chairman, Ejigbo South Local Council Development Area, Ilawo, Prince Omoboyede Jaiyeola made this assertion in his office at Ilawo during a courtesy visit by the Ejigbo Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT).
According to Jaiyeola, since teachers are regarded as the model of life of every citizen, there is the need for them to exhibit good mentoring spirit and total commitment to child development, performance and proficiency, with a view to stemming the tide of high rate of failure in schools, adding that the life of every citizen depends not only on the training received from the parents, but also the tutelage of the teachers.
The state ALGON Chairman, who described himself as a product of his teachers’ input, enjoined the teachers not to rest on their oars, but ensure effective teaching and mentoring in an enabling environment created by themselves.
Prince Jaiyeola appealed to teachers to continue putting in their best for the development of their pupils despite the modulated salary structure regime in the state, assuring them of improved welfare package in the not too distant future.
He opined that innocent children should not be put at the receiving end in the present situation in the state in particular, and the country at large.
As a strategy, Prince Jaiyeola pledged to set up what he called a “Think Thank Committee”, consisting majorly of teachers, which would be saddled with the responsibility of creating a template on education, thereby making society better and improving educational system in the council area.
The LCDA Chairman assured that his administration would always be willing to partner with teachers in the council area as far as development of education is concerned, saying he would look into the teachers’ requests as presented and attend to them as the council economy improves.
Leader of the delegation and Chairman, NUT Ejigbo chapter, Comrade Okelola Thomas, had earlier said they were on a familiarization tour to the council secretariat to demonstrate their solidarity to the present administration in the LCDA.
He said that contrary to widely-circulated rumor that the NUT had not been supportive of government, teachers in the state are dutiful and loyal to constituted authorities, stressing that their unflinching support could not be compromised.
The NUT boss who asserted that all teachers in the state are up to the task, vowed that the union would always pursue what is best for the development of children in the state, saying they would never relent in their genuine effort at imparting knowledge to pupils all over the state.
He however called on government to come to their aid as a union as they need assistance for the development of the union.
Present at the meeting were, Leader of the House, Hon. Akibu Mudasiu Oyedele and other parliamentarians; the Council Manager, Sur. Razaq Adeyemo, Head of Admin & General Services, Mr. Oyeniyi Oluseye, Head of Finance and Supplies, Mr. Samuel Arabo, Head of Social Development and Information, Mr. Sunday Taiwo, among others.