Teachers
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, Dec. 22, 2018 (NAN) Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi, the Special Adviser on Education to the Oyo State Governor, on Saturday described teachers as role models, miracle workers and nation builders.
Akin-Alabi said this at the 2018 valedictory service for graduates of the Bachelors Degree Programme of the Ibadan Study Centre of the National Teachers Institute (NTI) Kaduna.
The programme held at the Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan.
“Teachers are very important in every nation, they are role models and should view themselves as such.
“ If teachers stand at their duty post, there will be positive changes in our landscape.
“Teachers should always be responsible and take their vocation seriously.
“Therefore, I urge you to be proud in your profession and develop yourself.
“Your career is a rewarding one if you know what you are doing, if we teachers take our jobs seriously, our lives, that of the students and country will be better,” she said.
Also speaking, the NTI Coordinator in the state, Dr Bosede Oyinlola, enjoined the graduates to pursue postgraduate studies in other to boost their career.
“We assure you that by January your scripts will be marked so that your results will not be delayed and it will not be a hindrance for you to move forward in your academic pursuit.
“Always be good ambassadors of the institute, I assure you that the sky will always be your starting point.
“We, however, thank God for the success and completion of your programme,” she said.
Earlier, the Centre’s Manager, Dr Ronke Ojo, said the institute has challenges such as insufficient classrooms and administrative offices.
Ojo, however, commended the Federal Government for setting up the institute, saying it was an avenue for producing standard teachers in the country.
She called for regularity in the payment of salaries, saying many students often complain of inability to pay school fees.
“The Federal Government should ensure that state governments pay workers’ salary promptly.
“The government will do well if they allow the institute to have separate payment portal that will not clash with the Treasury Single Account.
“As election is on the way, I appeal to the incoming administration to put education first because no nation can rise above its education.
“We need total overhauling of the country’s curriculum so that it is fashioned around our needs and not adopting the same colonial curriculum of the 1850s,” she added. (NAN)
CC/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)