Ogun State government has promised to immediately release the letters of engagement to five thousand teachers under the Ogun State Teaching Experience Acquisition Channel in a bid to address the shortage of teachers in the public schools. 

Governor Dapo Abiodun who made the promise at the 2021 World Teachers’ Day Celebration held in Abeokuta, also announced cash rewards to about twelve teachers across primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary schools.

The 2021 World Teachers’ Day programme with the theme, “Teachers at the heart of education recovery” represents part of global efforts to acknowledge the contributions of teachers in the planning and execution of education policy. 

At the event which took place at Oba’s Complex, Oke Mosan Abeokuta, Governor Dapo Abiodun said the government would continue to initiate teacher-friendly policies towards the development of education in the state.

Governor Abiodun told the teachers that the recent posting of teachers to rural areas which had generated controversies among teachers in Ogun state would be reviewed.

Governor Abiodun who presented documents of a two-bedroom semi-detached apartment at Kobape to the overall best teacher in Ogun State said his administration would continue to reward excellence to enhance productivity in the education sector.

The Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, Mr. Akeem Lasisi said the approval for the implementation of the Ogun State Teaching Experience Acquisition Channel was long overdue.

Mr. Lasisi implored the state government to massively invest in the education sector by improving the capacity and welfare of school personnel, making the sector more ICT-compliant, and exposing the teachers to international best practices.

The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Ogun State Wing, Mr. Akinola Abiodun who was represented by the State Secretary of the union, Mr. Samson Oyelere called for the quick release of months of unremitted cooperative deductions which he noted had adversely affected the lives of workers.

The overall best teacher, Mr. Oladapo Kehinde from Japara High School Junior, Ijebu Igbo, who attributed the feat to dedication and commitment thanked the governor for the gesture.

The high point of the event was the presentation of cheques to other teacher awardees in the primary, junior and senior secondary schools category.

Olusegun Folarin