The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun has tasked Principals of Secondary Schools in Lagos to consciously team up with government in the process of rebuilding the state’s educational system.
Alli-Balogun made the call at the 36th Annual Congress of All Nigeria Conference of (ANCOPSS), Lagos State Branch at Adeyemi Auditorium, Alausa, Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos on Tuesday,14th November,2023.
While charging Principals on the need to join hands with the state government to foster a well-rounded setting for qualitative education, the Commissioner cited what he witnessed during one of his unscheduled inspections of some schools as not too heartwarming and so requires a proactive move by all stakeholders to change the narrative.
” I am appealing to you to have a new mindset about rebuilding our educational system. Let us share ideas and innovations, let us make learning and teaching more productive, let us mean well for these children, by so doing, we are showcasing our motherhood and fatherhood.
“I would enjoin you to create conducive atmosphere for us to be friends. Please let us cultivate the culture of infrastructure maintenance and shun indifferent attitudes that this property is not mine.”
He also affirmed the poise of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration to ensure capacity building and welfare of teachers in the state.
The President, All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Lagos State, Comr. Olushola Abayomi Masheyi while delivering his welcome address, appreciated and described the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education as the man the cap fits, a quintessential administrator, firm but friendly and visionary personality.
One who believes in taking Education to the grassroots. He therefore, assured the Commissioner of their steadfast support on the onerous task.
He however used the privilege to table their requests among which are capacity building and development, restoration of duty post allowance as well as rural/ riverine allowance, sponsorship to annual regional, national and international Conferences, recruitment of more teachers.
The Commissioner while responding to the ANCOPSS charter of request noted that plans are on already to address a sizable number the requests.
“With regards to their welfare, the State Government will not relent on its Oasis. In fact, I make bold to state that Lagos State is the best in terms of capacity training and development, therefore, it is the responsibility of teachers to properly train, mould and build children who are leaders of tomorrow.
“On shortage of manpower I can confidently inform you that the process of recruitment is ongoing with TESCOM and the government is doing its best in this area since it is not a swoop affair rather it done on quarterly basis.
“Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu is visionary and passionate about teachers and I know quite well that the issue of elongation of teachers’ tenure, would also be looked into.” Alli-Balogun said.
The Commissioner however, commended the Conference for its various achievements such as OVERALL BEST ADMINISTRATOR IN NIGERIA 2023; OVERALL BEST TEACHER IN LAGOS AND NIGERIA 2023; OVERALL WINNER OF JUNE 2023 TEACHERS EXCELLENT AWARD.
He also advised the gathering that there is the need to imbue the students with right orientations for our society to know peace.
This according to him could be achieved by discouraging drugs abuse, cultism, sexual harassment, gambling and other social vices among our students. “Therefore, we need to pilot and mould our children for career development, sports in school’s extracurricular activities will also go a long way to redirect the views of the wards for positive development.”
He vehemently asserted that sport is an investment and lucrative venture nowadays believing that most people belong to one club or the other like Chelsea, Man-U, Arsenal etc. Based on the above, he informed the Conference that very soon the State Government will unveil Lagos State Game Festival.
Hon. Alli-Balogun added that, for a giant stride to be achieved in the education sector, there is the need to have a common platform to discuss, dissect, dialogue and analysis issues and challenges because of the limited resources at the disposal of the government.
