The State Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Secondary School (ASUSS), Ondo State chapter, Comrade Balogun Tajudeen has called on government of Ondo State under the leadership of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to prioritize the payment of teachers’ salary to inspire for great work as schools in Ondo State commenced second term academic activities.
Comrade Balogun made this while speaking with The Democrat News Magazine and other reporters in his office in Akure on Tuesday January 11, 2022.
According to him, Government should pay us our salary as promised. He told us that workers will be paid promptly. We know that adverse effect of COVID-19 on economy notwithstanding government should intensify efforts on the welfare of workers.
While reacting to the cases of bullying in schools he said it started from home when the strong ones usually dominate the weak and as a result of violent movie that students are watching at home.
Balogun also identified cultism as another cause of bullying among students saying that cultism has spread to primary and secondary schools and that they operate with impunity.
He said since bullying is not limited to students saying that teachers also being intimidated by students or parents in the same way, he charged parents to stop bullying teachers adding that it is unfortunate that many parents have been doing it right in the presence of students.
While calling on the owners of private schools to install Close Circuit Television (CCTV) to their school as to monitor their students in order to curtail unguided behavior among the students, Comrade Balogun also pointed out that government can also help by putting Amotekun in place in public schools as to check insecurity drastically.
On government directive that Vice Principals should teach classes, he said: “This is what we have been doing before now. I teach Animal Husbandry at Uso Grammar School even as a Vice Principal and Chairman of ASUSS before government gave the directive.
“We have to make use of experienced hands to inculcate sufficient knowledge into these students to make them great indeed.
He said government should not make it an excuse not to employ teachers, because of the shortage of teachers in Secondary Schools across the state.
“Even if all the Vice Principals and the Principals concentrated on teaching alone without administrative work, it will not be enough”, he added.
He however commended ODSG under the leadership of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for infrastructural development in the state especially in schools.
In the same way, he charged the parents to be alive to their responsibility as their children resumed new academic term to make all the basic needs available to their children and wards.
Comrade Balogun also used the medium to urge the students to show high level of dedication to their studies and that they should not emulate bag people that are gallivanting about in the street without meaningful impact.