Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has appealed to teachers in the state to rededicate themselves to duty in order to return the state to its leading position in the nation’s education sector.
The governor, who gave the charge at a conference of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, held at the Idia College, Benin City on Wednesday, said teachers have a big role to play in moulding the nation’s abundant human capital resource, which, he noted, is more important than its oil resource.
He said: “Beside the salaries, you have obligation to look after the children. If you have half baked students, we will have a problem.
“Teachers are like bakers, baking future leaders of our country.
“That is why as a government we decided that the starting point is to invest in the primary and secondary schools.
“We are happy today that parents are withdrawing students from private to public schools in the state and we will not allow the privatisation of education.
“We cannot afford to have bad teachers.
“Please see yourselves as special people committed to society because you determine the kind of human capital that we have.”
The governor, who approved the automatic employment of teachers under the State Youth Employment Scheme, also promised that the government would look within their ranks with a view to appointing one of them as a Permanent Secretary.
Earlier, Comrade Charles Ifaluyi, the National President of ASUSS, thanked the governor for his magnanimity in the regular payment of teachers’ salaries and allowances and the approval and release of promotions of teachers that fell due in 2010.
Ifaluyi added: “We cannot forget to mention the massive renovation and reconstruction of public schools across the state, a policy that is still on-going.
“Also worthy of commendation is government’s resolve and directive to commence the immediate implementation of the new federal law on taxation.
“No doubt, this will bring to an end the tax burden that tutors have borne these past few years.”
While commending the Comrade Governor for graciously agreeing to re-commence the payment of the TSA {27.5 percent} of the basic salary which was in operation before the new wage regime, Comrade Ifaluyi said although the re-introduction of the old TSA as announced fall short of expectation, the teachers are nonetheless grateful as he did not renege in his promise to continue the payment in spite of the state’s seeming financial encumbrances.