- KINDLY SHARE T In this interview with ABIODUN NEJO, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Ekiti State Wing, Samuel Olugbesan, talks about what government needs to do to improve teaching and learning in public primary and secondary schools
In this interview with ABIODUN NEJO, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Ekiti State Wing, Samuel Olugbesan, talks about what government needs to do to improve teaching and learning in public primary and secondary schools
How is the primary school environment in Ekiti State?
The primary school environment in the rural areas is a little different from the one in the urban areas. But basically, I can say that our primary schools are in order, compared to what obtains in other states.
Do you think the environment is conducive for teaching and learning, in such a manner that can produce the best results?
I want to say that the school environment is still not the best in terms of teaching and learning. Although the infrastructure in some of our schools, particularly in the urban areas, is okay and learning can take place effectively, the situation is different in the rural areas. Some of the schools in such areas are facing a lot of challenges. Even some have no roofs.
What should the state government do in terms of infrastructure?
I want the state government to focus on the schools in the rural areas. These are schools that need urgent attention. The government should to go to such schools and fix their problems.
Why the ongoing recruitment of teachers?
In the last six or seven years, a lot of teachers have retired from the teaching service and new hands have not been employed to fill the vacuum that their exit created. This has created a big problem in the education sector. There is no school that does not have shortage of teachers. I am glad that government has heard our cries and it agrees that new teachers must be recruited.
How many primary school teachers do you need in Ekiti?
If we are given 5,000 primary school teachers in Ekiti State, we will still ask for more. But since the government wants to employ new hands, it will have to consider its purse first. That is why it is thinking of employing about 1,500 new teachers. If this is done, it will help in a way to address the inadequacies that we are battling with at the moment.
How many teachers ought to be in Ekiti primary schools and how many do you have at present?
We have over 800 primary schools in Ekiti State. I may not be able to give the correct number of teachers right now because of those who retired in September. The average primary school ought to have at least 16 teachers, but right now most schools have between six and eight teachers. So the situation is worrisome.
Are you comfortable with the number of teachers the government wants to employ in the state?
Half of a loaf is always better than none. For some time, we have been clamouring for more teachers. Now that the government is willing to employ new teachers, we have to appreciate the gesture. As soon as the teachers settle in the classrooms, we will keep making demands so that the job will be thorough and efficient.
What is your assessment of the ongoing recruitment exercise?
I want to commend Governor Kayode Fayemi for allowing the State Universal Basic Education Board to embark on the exercise. I want to commend the chairman of SUBEB, Prof Francisca Aladejana, and her team. They have done very well. I believe that by the end of the exercise, they would have given us the best and Ekiti will be proud of they have done. The NUT commends them for a job well done.
Are teachers really getting what they deserve in the state?
Let me start by appreciating the present government in the state for paying teachers’ salaries as and when due. Nevertheless, we want the government to take a closer look at the issue of leave bonus for teachers.
Government should bear in mind that not all the level 14 officers in primary schools have received their leave bonuses for 2015. In fact, no primary school teacher has received his leave bonus for 2016. Only those in secondary schools have been paid. Even then, teachers in secondary schools are still yearning for payment of the bonus for 2017.
The government should consider the unpaid salary arrears of primary school teachers, who are still being owed six months’ salaries. Some of our teachers have received letters of promotion, but the financial implication of that has not been implemented. When the financial aspect is not yet implemented, it becomes ordinary paper. I want to implore the government that the promotion given to teachers two years ago should be implemented right now. If this is done, it will motivate them to do more.
What step has the NUT taken to ensure the payment of teachers’ salary arrears?
Each time we hold a meeting with the governor, we talk about this. Three weeks ago, when he met some stakeholders in the education sector, he promised to pay all the arrears by the time he clocks one year in office. We are still supporting him with prayers.
As things are, do you think that teachers in Ekiti are satisfied with their jobs?
The issue of job satisfaction is open ended. Some people will never be satisfied, no matter how much money they earn. There are some people who are naturally dissatisfied with what they do for a living. For instance, a medical doctor who abandons his profession for a stint with politics does not have job satisfaction.
Everybody knows that teachers are not well paid in Nigeria. If the average teacher gets his salary, leave bonus and other entitlements as and when due and the atmosphere is conducive, he will be happy, and fulfilled.
What is the level of competence of primary school teachers in the state?
It is better now than what it was a few years ago. We have decided, through the Teachers Registration Council, that anybody that is not registered cannot be admitted to the teaching profession. In three months’ time, any teacher in public primary and secondary schools, who is not duly registered, cannot be in the educational system again. That singular act has helped us a lot.. Nowadays you can only find trained teachers in our classrooms.
Don’t you have mixed feelings about the idea of employing graduates to teach in primary schools?
No. We still believe that graduates can teach in primary schools. The capacity of primary school teachers is not limited to the National Certificate in Education. Nowadays, before you can become a headmaster, you must be a university graduate. That is the new system. Even the Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission has called for applications from both graduates and NCE holders for teaching jobs in secondary schools.
Why is there a proliferation of private primary schools in the state?
Statistically, I want to say that the true picture of the increase in public primary schools in Ekiti is not being painted. When we resumed for this session, the SUBEB Chairman, Prof Aladejana, organised a school enrolment programme. Even Governor Fayemi came to enroll some pupils.
Right now, the report we are receiving from our schools is quite encouraging, especially with the Executive Order introduced by the governor, which cancelled the payment of school fees. This significantly helped in the increase of enrolment in schools.
There was a time when the number of private schools in the state appeared to be increasing. Right now, many parents and guardians have started bringing their children and wards back to public schools.
How can basic education be improved in Nigeria?
There is a lot to be done by the Federal and state governments. I want the government and all the stakeholders in the education sector to drop the habit of delivering service through their sugarcoated lips. They ought to be sincere. If we all believe that no nation can develop beyond her education, then a lot of resources must be committed to developing Nigerian education. Government should invest more financial resources in education. Adequate infrastructure must be in place. Most of the laboratories and libraries in our schools are becoming obsolete. A lot is required to ensure that there is improvement in these areas.
