A CALL TO REASON Here is a passionate appeal to teachers in Ekiti State to embrace and support the re-election of the incumbent Executive Governor of the State, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi in the forthcoming gubernatorial election come 21st June 2014. The imperativeness of this call is anchored on the numerous achievements of his administration. Before the inception of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, JFK’s administration, the education sector in Ekiti was, to put it simply, in a deplorable state. Ekiti’s education infrastructure was in shambles and not conducive to learning. The facilities put in place by the previous governments was deteriorating fast because of the use of substandard building materials. Teachers and students had to endure constantly the teaching-learning process under the fear of possible collapse of building. Being the passionate educationist, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi on inception into office, quickly put in place the “Operation Renovate All Schools in Ekiti (ORASE)”, which has transformed the infrastructure of our schools into their modern, state-of-the-art admirable vista we all now admire. Apparently, teachers and students now enjoy a very productive teaching-learning process in safe environment. The JKF administration has placed our students on the same pedestal as their counterparts on the international scene by simply demystifying ICT-based learning in our schools. Our school libraries are now stocked with modern and relevant textbooks. In the same vein, science is no more the elusive, abstract subject for our students with the provision of modern laboratory apparatuses in schools across the state. My distinguished and noble colleagues, need I remind us that JKF ensured that all qualified students sit the 2014 West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination? We all know that education is the best legacy a father can bequeath to his children. Needless to say, our children are the future of our dear State! No government is 100% efficient, and the JFK administration will not be an exception. No, no government will ever be. Governance is a science of advancement in development. However, it will be a shame if we cannot as teachers measure the efficiency of this administration with professional objectivity. What then are we teachers for? What, may someone ask, would we say we have held true as the conscience of the State? Shall we then fail to appreciate the laudable efforts of JFK and his administration for the restructuring of the education sector in the state? Shall we deny the provision of job security for teachers through the intervention of the World Bank assisted project of the present administration, which has made Ekiti State one of the three states benefiting from occupational innovation in Nigeria today? Yes, it will be counter progressive to fail to ask for more. Dr. John Kayode Fayemi has so far implemented and upgraded teachers to level 17 across the state. He had as well reorganised the status of degree holders in primary schools. He did not stop at that, he also rewards diligence and hard work by giving out four brand new vehicles to the best teachers and educational administrators annually. Another novel incentive, unprecedented in the history of the state, is the execution and the payment of rural and core subjects allowances for teachers in Ekiti State, Yet another added value to the teaching profession in Ekiti State, spurred by JFK’s vision, is the award of the National Best Teacher 2014 bagged by a native of Oye Local Government, the home of the executive governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi. Contrary to the campaign of calumny by the opposition parties in the state, JFK has promised that no teacher will be retrenched. The Governor instead has approved 27.5% pecuniary allowance and the payment commenced with immediate effect. Meanwhile, the Governor has reviewed the Teachers Exam (TDNA); teachers’ upgrading will now be through questionnaires, seminars, workshops, training and retraining of teachers both in Nigeria and abroad. THE CALL JFK has more to give us, but only if he continues in office. We say Rome was not built in a day. Nevertheless, was it eventually built by successive vandals? Therefore, let the good work of John Kayode Fayemi continue in Ekiti State. Frankly, unless of course teachers have stopped to be frank, to deny JFK another chance is to deny ourselves, our students, their parents and the future of Ekiti State the legacy that will endure. Let us not play politics! Let us work towards a better Ekiti! Ekiti a gbe a oooooo!
Posted on: Sat, 24 May 2014 20:14:29 +0000
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