Equip rural schools, recruit more teachers – Group urges govt.
A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Worthy Purpose Foundation, says students in public schools will do better, if the schools are equipped with the right tools.
Chairman of the NGO, Dr Funmilola Williams-Daudu, stated this while speaking with journalists on Sunday in Ikaram-Akoko in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Williams made the statement after the finals of the foundation’s annual quiz competition, which was for secondary schools in Akoko axis of the state.
According to Williams-Daudu, the competition, the second in the series, is put together as part of measures to address the falling standard of secondary education in the area.
She said that during the first edition of the competition, no school in Ikaram-Akoko got to the finals, adding that the foundation had to contract teachers for the schools.
“This is the second edition. We started in 2020 with only the schools in Akoko North-West. This year, we have expanded it to cover Akoko North-West and Akoko North-East.
“In this part of the state, we observed that there are no enough teachers in the public schools, thus resulting in poor performances of students in public schools in 2020.
“None of the public schools in this town got to the finals of the competition in 2020 but his year, we have decided to get contract teachers to coach them.
“The wife of the king also supported and a public school from this town came third in this second edition,” she said.
Also speaking, the Akala of Ikaram, Oba Andrew Momodu, called on the state government to recruit more teachers in public schools.
Momodu said that the recent recruitment of 1,000 teachers by the state government could not solve the problem of inadequacy of teachers in public schools, especially in rural areas.
According to the traditional ruler, there are only two teachers in public schools within his domain, thus forcing the community to resort to employing teachers for the schools.
Momodu, who backed the call for declaration of a state of emergency in public schools in the state, said recruitment of teachers should be a continuous exercise until the acute shortage was addressed.
“We thank Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for recruiting teachers in public schools for the first time in 10 years.
“We want the governor to make it an annual event. Recruitment of teachers should be a continuous exercise until the acute shortage is address.
“This quiz competition is good for the students. It is a challenge for the students to work hard. To achieve good results, you need a system of reward.
“The competition is a reward system because of the recognition and the gift they get. It will encourage them to take their studies more seriously,” he said.
Also, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Federal University of Lafia, Nassarawa State, Bashorun Arogbofa, said that the country’s educational system could still be salvaged if the government showed the will and dedication.
Arogbofa noted that people’s confidence in public education was presently at its lowest ebb, urging government to do more for schools, especially those in rural areas.
Nigerian NewsDirect reports that at the end of the competition, Akoko Anglican Grammar School, Arigidi-Akoko came first, with Mount Carmel Girls Secondary School, Ikare and Otolomi High School, Ikaram taking second and third positions.
