Employ Qualified Teachers, Educationist Urges Govt

The president, Bachel Group of Schools Old Students’ Association, Lagos, Mr. Damilare Oyetunji, has called on the state and Federal governments to ensure that they employ qualified and competent teachers in primary and secondary schools.

Employing such competent teachers, he said, would help in revamping the falling standard of education in the country.

He said this in an interview with our correspondent after he emerged president of the association on Saturday.

Oyetunji, who noted that many teachers were no longer committed to the profession, added that it was the responsibility of a dedicated teacher to recognise the strengths and weaknesses of each pupil in his class.

He said, “It is unfortunate that many teachers in the primary and
secondary schools no longer treat pupils the way they will treat their own children. A professional and committed teacher must identify the strengths and weaknesses of each pupil under his or her care. He or she must develop a module that suits each pupil.

“But instead of doing this, some of these teachers prefer to organise private or home tutorials for such pupils who have weaknesses in certain subjects.

“Besides, the state and federal governments must improve on infrastructure in many of the public schools. Some do not have good ventilation, while some others do not have enough furniture.

“For pupils in such schools, the environment cannot be conducive for teaching and learning.”

Oyetunji also called for an appropriate timing for teaching a subject like Mathematics, which, he said, should be taught in the morning, as opposed to afternoon, when pupils were already exhausted for the day.

He also urged members of the association to contribute to addressing the rot in the nation’s education sector, particularly in monitoring the ills plaguing their alma mater.

“The old students of each school must be involved in monitoring the developments in their alma mater. They must ensure that the teachers are doing their job.

“They must ensure those who do not measure up are shown the way out,” he added.

The director of studies, Bachel Group of Schools, Mr. Ayokunle Fasusi, explained that there was the need to promote mutual relationship between a school and its old students, in order to take education to the next level.

He said, “This kind of reunion must be encouraged, because that is the only way to take education to the next level.

“The old students have gone through the school, and it is only good they look back and see what they can do to help their alma mater.”