The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, on Thursday said that the incorporation of the N-Power Teachers Corps into the education sector would address the state’s shortage of teachers.
Adebule made the assertion at the induction Course for N-Power Teachers Corps organised by the state’s Ministry of Education in Lagos.
The N-Power Teachers Corps, aimed at assisting main teachers in schools, is one of the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme (SIP), developed as an interim plan in April 2016.
The teachers’ corps numbering 5,436 graduates was deployed to Lagos State as volunteer teachers under the N-Power programme of the Federal Government.
She said that the state government had recruited 2,300 teachers in the last two years to address the problem of shortage and reduce the teacher/students ratio.
“The major challenge in the education sector is the shortage of man power and it is a fact that quality teaching and learning is better achieved when there are fewer students for a teacher to handle.
“The injection of the huge number of corps into the school system should considerably address this area of challenge,’’ she said.
Adebule said the implementation of the programme was delayed till now to allow the government to prepare for the training, postings and welfare of the teachers to ensure quality service delivery.
She urged the teachers to be dedicated, disciplined, make positive impact and see their postings as an opportunity to serve humanity and contribute to nation building.
“Let me prepare your minds that you will be posted to primary and secondary schools in the urban and rural areas of the state.
“There is reward for hard work, diligence, efficiency and dedication in the state.
“And the government will not hesitate to deal decisively with any teacher who will not adhere to the regulations of the profession,’’ she said.
Adebule assured that the government would provide an enabling environment for the teachers as well as ensure the state’s partnership with the Federal Government for the programme to succed.
In a lecture, entitled “My Teacher, My Role Model’’, Mrs Olubunmi Fabanwo, former Director-General of the Public Service Staff Development Centre, said a good teacher must be skillful, knowledgeable, competent and must have good practical experience.
According to her, these attributes will ensure the teacher’s efficiency.
Contributing, Mr Adesina Odeyemi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, said that the programme was to reduce graduate unemployment by empowering 500, 000 graduates across the country.
He said that induction course marked the official take off of the N-Power Programme in the state.
