Teachers’ Day: Education Secretary, Allanah, wants teachers given their pride of place

By Magnus Emuji

THE Education Secretary for Oshimili South Local Education Authority, Comrade Allanah Oputa Otutu has emphasized the need for proper attention and recognition to be accorded to teachers because every other profession derives its foundation from the teaching profession.

She spoke at this year’s Teachers’ Day celebration at the Cenotaph, Asaba, Delta State.

According to her “it was the teachers who raised that best brains in any given profession; actually taught by teachers right from the infancy, the primary school level. We (teachers) lay the foundation “.

Therefore, it is unthinkable to relegate teachers to the background . It is time to give the teachers their pride of place at every level.

On his part, the Chairman of the Association of Primary School Heads of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Delta State chapter, Comrade Edward Mesere also echoed that teachers are essential stakeholders in the development of any society.

He therefore said that teachers must discharge this sacred responsibility with utmost commitment, adding that they should be focused at all times in moulding the children as future leaders.

He emphasized the need for some of the teachers when recruited to be posted to riverine areas to cushion the effect of shortage of teachers in such areas.

In a related development the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Ika North East chapter, Comrade Clement Ofuonyeabuna has called on the government at all levels to make the welfare of teachers top priority and urgent. 

Comrade Ofuonyeabuna made the call in a chat with newsmen in Boji-Boji Owa, Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State.

His words: “Teachers are poorly treated and everybody knows about it and it is so glaring. We are not motivated to put in the best and that is why the education sector keep depreciating.

“We are appealing to the government at all levels to make the welfare of teachers a top priority and it should be done urgently” he stated. 

“We teach these our leaders but when they come up they relegate us to the background. This is an opportunity to tell them that if you relegate someone that brought you up, there is every tendency that the society will not move forward” he stated.