Date Published: 12/21/09

Oni reads riot act to teachers in the state

Ekiti State Governor, Engr. Segun Oni has told principals of secondary schools in the state that promotion to higher positions would henceforth be based on the performance of their students in examinations.

In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre, the governor noted that his administration would no longer tolerate the abysmal performance of the students inspite of the “huge investment” in the education sector by the government.

“We are really worried that inspite of our ground breaking revolution in education. We are yet to see results of the kind we have envisaged.

“It is not enough to put all these facilities there if there is no one to drive them to achieve maximum result. That is why we are saying that the principals would henceforth be held responsible for the poor performance of their students in examinations.

“Your promotion must be commensurate with your performance. There will be no automatic promotion for anybody. We would make positions into high office tantamount to the productivity of our teachers” he said.

He noted the government had provided an enabling environment for the schools to excel, adding that the principals had no excuse to ensure that the students are rated among the best in the world.

“We have provided the infrastructures, our teachers are among the best paid in the country. What is more? We are constantly upgrading the schools in a bid to make it comparable to any school in the country.

“We have done what a responsible government would do and all we are asking for now is that our teachers must wake up to their responsibility of ensuring the students are well trained to meet future challenges. This is our vision and also our mission”

To this end, the governor noted that a performance evaluation committee for each school in the state would be set up earnest.

He further warned teachers who engage in sharp practices to make students pass examinations to desist from the act, adding that his administration is prepared to deal decisively with anybody caught in the act.

“The era where a particularly government supported schools to have miracle centers where malpractices were engaged in to give the impression that the state is doing well is gone for good in the state.

“We are encouraging our students to work hard to attain success and this is why we are impressing it on our teachers to be above board themselves” he said.