Ogun Sets To Recruite 1,000 Additional Teachers In Public Schools

Ogun State Government says it is concluding plans to engage an additional over 1000 teachers under the Ogun State Teaching Experience Acquisition Channel (OgunTeach), to complement the existing 2000 who are already in public schools.

Governor Dapo Abiodun unfolded the plan  while addressing the interns who came on a thank you visit to his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, saying out of the 5,000 shortlisted, 2,000 had been absorbed.

Abiodun pointed out that his administration would not disengage the existing interns at the expiration of their temporary appointments, saying the determination of the government to revitalise the education sector necessitated the initiative to engage the  OgunTeach interns who were on a two-year teaching programme to fill vacant positions in the State Teaching Service.

He said, "We have shortlisted about 5,000 of you and we have already boarded 2,000, be rest assured that very soon, we will also engage another 1000 or 1,500. This administration will not use and dump you”, charging them to be diligent and committed to duty.

Prince Abiodun reiterated that the government would continue to prioritise the sector, as Ogun State is known to be the education capital of the nation, saying the process for the employment of the teachers was based on transparency and merit.

Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu commended Governor Abiodun for the OgunTeach initiative, describing the process for selecting the interns as thorough and transparent.

Mrs. Folake Oyegunle and Mr. Tosin Fatunbi who spoke on behalf of the interns applauded the Governor for providing jobs for them after many years of being redundant and urged him to make them pensionable staff, promising to discharge their duties effectively towards the development of the education sector.

The injection of the additional teachers will increase the number of quality teachers and improve the teachers and students ratio in public schools in the state

Edu-biznews recalled that both the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and  Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) had described the 2,000 teachers engaged in the system as grossly inadequate, considering the number of those who retired or transferred from teaching service.