By Olanrewaju Adesanya
SUNRISE NEWS, Lagos, Sept. 3, 2020 The Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Education has highlighted the shortage of teachers handling key subjects in Secondary schools under Education District 4 Yaba, as students are writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The Principal of Herbert Macaulay Girls Senior High School, Yaba, Mrs. Oshin Adetutu, who welcomed the committee members, led by Hon. Yinka Ogundimu with the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Anike Adekanye took them round the school premises.
According to her, we have 25 teachers with a total population of 771 students. We need teachers for Mathematic, Biology and Christian Religion Knowledge (CRK).
Similarly, Mrs Cecilia Okewo, Principal of Eletu Odibo Senior High School, Abule-Oja Yaba told the committee that the school lacked Chemistry, Mathematics and Fine Art teachers.
She also said that one of the school buildings and the fence suffered structural defect,citing a closeby dysfunctional canal, which needed urgent attention.
The situation was not different at Fazl-I-Omar Senior School, Iwaya, Yaba as well as at Eletu Odibo
The Principal of the school, Mr. Yusuf Olokodana said that the school had 27 teachers with 833 students and six classrooms.
He added that there were no teachers for Mathematics, History and Home Economics.
It was observed that there was an ongoing construction of blocks of classrooms to accommodate students in some of the schools visited.
In his comments, Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu said that the essence of the visitation was to see the level of compliance to COVID-19 protocols in schools ahead of the resumption date as directed by the House under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.
Ogundimu, who said that some of the schools complied with COVID-19 protocols emphasized the need for more teachers in the schools.
According to him, we are going to work with the Ministry of Education and the office of Tutor General /Permanent Secretary to ensure that more teachers are posted to the schools.
However, he said that where the schools lack enough classrooms, it would be hard to maintain social distancing.
Ogundimu used the opportunity to sensitize the students on COVID-19 guidelines and how to prevent themselves from being infected.
He appealed to them to always ensure social distancing, use of facemasks and to also extend this knowledge to their parents at home.
“Play your role as students to eliminate COVID-19 in our society.
“We are not here to look for scapegoats, but to ensure the safety of our students and for them to be able to compete favourably with their counterparts,” .
He however, stressed that the completion of existing structures that are being revamped, within some schools in the district area must be hastened up to give room for a more conducive environment for learning.
“The Ministry of Education need to take drastic action to revamp the building here to have it in good condition, right on time ahead students resumption,so as to guard against having too much students in a class.
“Employment of more teachers in sciences and English language and other key subject is ongoing by the state government, but COVID has affected the operation,I think TESCOM should do the needful.” Ogundimu said.
The schools visited under Education District 4 Yaba includes;Lagos City Senior College, Birrel Avenue Senior High School, Herbert Macaulay Girls’ Senior High School, Eletu Odibo Senior High School, Fazl-l-Omar Senior School, St. Francis Junior Grammar School
The Tutor General /Permanent Secretary of the District, Mrs. Anike Adekanye appreciated the efforts of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa to ensure that schools comply with COVID-19 protocols.