Makinde Allocates N250 Million Grant for Secondary Schools’ Operations, Greenlights Integration of Seconded Teachers

The chairman of Oyo State Post Primary Schools Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Pastor Akinade Alamu, has disclosed that the state government has released a sum of N250 million as school grant to run the activities of secondary schools in the state.

Pastor Alamu, made the disclosure at the opening of a two-day training workshop, organised for secondary school principals in Ibadan zones one, two, three and four by the commission in collaboration with Education Advancement Centre (EAC), held at the Ibadan Grammar School’s Emmanuel Alayande Hall on May 6 and 7 respectively.

The training marked the sixth in the series that had also been held in other locations of the state namely; Oyo, Saki, Ogbomoso, Eruwa and Iseyin.

The theme of the two-day training was “Strategic Leadership for School Transformation and Outstanding Performance.”

Speaking further about the N250 million grant, the TESCOM chairman said it is the balance of the third term of the last academic session and the full payment of the one for the first term.

He confirmed that the money had been paid to the bank for onward disbursement to all principals for the smooth running of the secondary schools’ affairs in the state, which include: conduction of terminal examinations, purchasing of teaching aids, management of minor repairs in their schools, payment of security personnel and expenses for other relevant services and activities in the schools.

While he commended the state government for its promptness toward the delivery of quality education in the state, he said, “this is not a one-off event; it is a continuous exercise. We expect our principals to use the money judiciously to ensure that the purpose for which the money is released is achieved.”

Speaking about the programme, the chairman said training and retraining of teachers have now become a continuous exercise in the state and that the governor on a yearly basis approves money for the cause.

He noted that the workshop organised by the commission for school principals in Ibadan, will also see the training of Science Teachers in secondary schools also from all the four zones at the same venues as it was in other locations.

While he encouraged teachers in the state to reciprocate the gesture of Governor Seyi Makinde by working hard, he said “there is no fear in retirement anymore. For those who are about to retire, do not exercise any fear whatsoever.

“When you retire now, you are in money because your gratuity will be paid almost immediately and you will get your pension which is almost the same as your salary. We have every cause to be grateful to God and the governor of Oyo State.”

Imploring the participants to approach the training with open mind and collaborative spirit he said, “I urge you to be conscious of the fact that much has been given and much is also expected from you as principals .”

He also charged them to make the ongoing West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) hitch-free and void of examination malpractice saying, “let our students conduct themselves very well, don’t allow a situation where they all sit together and copy themselves under the guise of assisting them to pass.”

In his closing remarks at the workshop on Tuesday, Pastor Alamu disclosed that the governor has approved and signed the full integration of the seconded teachers in schools, just as he has agreed to recruit more teachers in the state.

“The governor said he is awaiting our memo on the recruitment of more teachers in Oyo State. He gave us the assurance that he knows the condition of our secondary and primary schools and that in the next three year, no school will be left with no fence in the state,” he said.

While he enjoined the teachers, to go back to their school and impact others, he said “I have no doubt that whatever you learn in the course of this workshop will bring you to the desired level of competence on your job; it is also your gain for life. So, back and gather your teachers and transfer the knowledge which you have gained into them as the trainers that have been trained.”

He expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde for his special interest in education, which has been evident in building the capacities of education managers/handlers of secondary education in Oyo State for the attainment of greater competencies on their duties

He solicited the continued support of the secondary school principals under the aegis of All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Public Schools (ANCOPPS) in the state.