Nigeria’s future depends on human Capital, not oil – Oshiomhole

By Gabriel Enogholase

EDO State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has advised all stakeholders in the education sector to brace up for the rehabilitation of the sector noting that the future of the country depends largely in its human capacity development and not the oil sector.

He also disclosed that the state is to set up Governing Councils which would empower community leaders to supervise schools in their communities as a means of checking indiscipline in schools.

Governor Oshiomhole who spoke weekend at Irrua at the 2011 Education Summit organized by the Association of Esan professionals, lamented that even teachers posted to the rural communities no longer teach in rural areas and added that, you post them to rural areas, they always bribe their way back”.

According to the governor, “we discussed at the council that we have to set up governing councils, so that we can empower community leaders to supervise schools in their various communities and be able to report to the Ministry of Education, so that if those who are paid to monitor do not do so, the communities would not allow their pupils to idle away”.

He decried the attitude of teachers who abandon their responsibilities to engage in other activities describing it as a huge disservice to the education system.

“The truth of matter is that teachers are just as well paid as any civil servant. In fact, until the new minimum wage, teachers were better paid than civil servants. A teacher on Grade Level 16 earned more than a Director on Grade Level 16”, adding that teachers must change their attitude to work.

Adams Oshiomhole

Expressing worry over the attitude of teachers to posting to the rural areas, Oshiomhole said “I simply cannot understand what has gone wrong. Even teachers from the rural areas now refuse posting to rural communities”.

While commending the Association Esan Professionals, organizers of the workshop, the governor urged them to sustain what they are doing.

“I encourage others to spare some time, thoughts and some resources so that together we can reposition education. I agree that everyone of us has a role in this, parents, governments at various levels, and individuals can make contributions one way or the other”, he said.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Ekpenisi Omorotionmwan disclosed that the within the nest two weeks, the state government would recruit 1,800 teachers to address the shortage of teachers in schools situated in rural communities.

He also announced that the Inspectorate Division of the State Ministry of Education now all most non – existing would be decentralized and rejuvenated with the establishment of Zonal Offices across the three senatorial zones of the state for effective supervision.

On his part, the Chairman of the summit, AVM Anthony Okpere who commended the Governor for his bold steps in the education sector of the state decried the Federal Government’s inconsistent policy in the education sector.

While calling for the re-introduction of Trade Schools, he advocated for the inclusion of moral education in the school curriculum to check the high level of indiscipline in schools.

Earlier, president of the Association Mr. Mike Osime said the association would create an enabling environment for stakeholders to make their contributions to the development of education in the state.

The highpoint was the presentation of prizes to students and schools which won the quiz, essay and football competitions.