- seek reforms in Education
By John Dike Osogbo
Retired Tutors-General in Ekiti State have pledged support for the re-election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
Also, they outlined sweeping reforms needed to reposition the state’s education sector.
These were part of the resolutions reached at an interactive meeting with the state leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Nigeria, held on Tuesday, September 9, at the union’s permanent secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
Top on the list of their recommendations is the gazetting of Tutors-General’s appointments to give the office a statutory backing for effective service delivery.
They also demanded that Tutors-General be formally recognised on the government’s protocol list, stressing that recognition should go beyond payment of salaries.
The body further recommended that appointment letters for Tutors-General should be issued by the Head of Service, accompanied by official swearing-in ceremonies as obtained in other states. They maintained that such formal processes would not only dignify the office but also enhance its functionality.
Other resolutions include the provision of office equipment and subventions for Tutors-General, construction of district offices to enable them to properly oversee schools under their jurisdiction, and allocation of utility vehicles to aid school monitoring and administration.
Regarding school operations, the retirees emphasised the need to reintroduce the boarding system to schools, equip school monitoring agents with utility vehicles to enhance supervision.
They also called for regular assessment of teachers’ performance and continuous training workshops to update teaching methods in line with global best practices.
On recruitment, the body recommended that merit should be the guiding principle, with examinations and interviews properly supervised.
They also advocated for the reintroduction of rural allowances for teachers posted to underserved communities, describing it as a way of motivating staff and ensuring equity in deployment.
The resolutions also touched on discipline and integrity in schools. Principals, they said, must promote discipline with fairness, while the state government should enforce zero tolerance for examination malpractice, ensuring that both students and collaborators face sanctions.
To promote digital literacy, the retired Tutors General urged the state government to improve internet connectivity in schools, particularly in rural areas, so that students there can compete favourably with their peers in urban centres. They also recommended regular joint meetings between ASUSS and Tutors-General to strengthen collaboration and advocacy for teachers.
Speaking at the event, leader of the body, High Chief Tayo Ilori, said the group’s intervention was necessary to secure the future of education in Ekiti State.
“The Tutors-General are an integral part of the system and their office must be given proper recognition and support. If these reforms are implemented, service delivery in our schools will improve significantly,” he stated.
Ilori also declared the group’s support for Governor Oyebanji’s second term bid, describing him as a leader who has shown uncommon passion for education.
“Governor Oyebanji has demonstrated sincerity and commitment to the growth of education. We believe giving him another term will allow him to consolidate on these gains, and we, as elder statesmen, will stand by him,” he added.
National President of ASUSS, Comrade Sola Adigun, praised the retired Tutors-General for their continued engagement, describing them as elder statesmen whose experience and wisdom remain invaluable to the development of the teaching profession.
“Our fathers here may be retired, but they are not tired. Their insights on the challenges facing our schools are valid, and their support for reforms gives more weight to our advocacy as a union,” he said.
