By Monsuru Olowoopejo

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Oluranti Adebule and Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary of Education District 1, Agege, Dr. Yinka Ayandele, have asked teachers to rededicate themselves to improving the state of education in the country. Also, the chairman,  State House of Assembly’s Committee on Finance, Mr. Yinka Ogundimu, on Wednesday, said a viable education sector will help reduce the crime rate, saying “we will be spending less money in fighting crime in the state.”

•L-R: Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Finance, Mr. Yinka Ogundimu, Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary of Education District 1, Dr. Yinka Ayandele, State deputy governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule represented by Director of Private and Special Education, Mrs. Ajoke Gbeleyi and Former Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye at the 2016 awards and honours ceremony for teachers in Lagos State Education District 1, Ogba, Ikeja.

They spoke at 2016 awards and honours ceremony for teachers in Lagos State Education District 1, themed: “Making Educational Functional for All,” held in Ogba, Ojodu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, which also had in attendance the former Commissioner for Education in the state, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye and others.

They were of the view that teachers and educational personnel should  reciprocate unwavering commitment of government to education in the state.The Deputy Governor who was represented by the Director of Private and Special Education, Mrs Ajoke Gbeleyi, disclosed that the present administration can only be encouraged to do more in the area of education if the teachers and other personnel intensify their efforts.

Teachers reward

Her words, “I want to remind our teachers again that you should remain committed, hardworking and be dedicated in whatever you do, knowing that diligence will always be recognized. “Teachers reward is no longer in heaven, but here on earth will providence reward our commitment and dedication,” she added. Adegbule maintained that besides the glamour and funfair accompanying the ceremony, the annual merit awards have no doubt helped in rewarding excellence, commitment and dedication to work, particularly in the teaching profession.

Congratulating the 5,000 strong workforce in the district especially the awardees, the deputy governor stated that their role was critical to achieving the mission of providing comprehensive quality and functional education for students. She said: “We see all our teachers as partners in progress and we will continue to celebrate you as important stakeholders. Education remains the bedrock of development and you play a very strategic role in realizing this mission.”

Our aim is to build leaders —Ayandele

Also earlier, Dr Ayandele, vowed to ensure that the 130, 000 students in the district schools, are nurtured to become leaders who would contribute their quota to the development of the country. She explained that the district has changed its teaching skills to “ensure that children acquire the right skill while in secondary school, that will help them compete with their counterpart from foreign countries.”

The Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary ,however, stated that her target before 2017 was “to ensure that education in District 1 improves. That was why we have decided to establish special classes for students representing the schools at different sporting events. “They have come back with laurels. And in order to achieve that, they spent more time on the field practicing than time spent in classes. In order to make them be at par with their mates, we created the special classes where they will be taught classes they have missed.”

Also, Ogundimu who represents Agege 11 at the Assembly, explained that a viable education sector would require the contribution of not only the governments, also the support of the parents and corporate individuals to make the sector more viable.

According to him, “A lot of money has been spent on security but without collaboration and recognizing the efforts of teachers, we will continue to spend huge amounts of funds without achieving results. But if we can concentrate on improving the sector, we will be spending less money in fighting crime in the state.

“There are a lot of social problem in the society today. Some of the problems include students absconding from homes and schools to engage in illicit acts,” he added. The lawmaker argued that there was no child that is not trainable, saying: “There is need for intensified collaboration in the education sector. Improvement of the education sector cannot be achieved by Government alone without the input of the private sector including the parents. The parents are key factors in making education function in this country.

“Parents have to collaborate with the teachers and school in order to achieve an education sector that will help better improve the country. Money alone cannot help improve education; the children need care from their parents,” he said. He however assured residents of Lagos of the lawmakers resolve to intensify their oversight function, adding, “we will ensure that the funds allocated to the education sector are used judiciously.”

During the awards, Mr. Lateef Salawu, Principal of Yewa Junior Secondary School, Agege, was adjudged the best junior principal while the best principal in the senior secondary school category went to Mrs. Modupe Akinbami of Ijaiye housing estate secondary school.

Also, Iju Junior Grammar School, Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government, was awarded the best school of  the year. The overall best teacher was awarded to Mr. Toluwalope Odunsanya of Abibat Mogaji millennium school, Iloro Agege. Mrs. Fatai Fatimah, was, however, awarded the best cleaner of the year in district.