Teachers Day: NUT decries level of literacy in Ogun

THE Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ogun State, on Thursday, said that literacy level in the state is fast becoming deteriorated due to poor enrollment of school-age children in public schools.

This disclosure was made by the State chairman of the Union, Comrade Titilope Adebanjo, in his address to mark the World Teachers Day, calling on the government to pay more attention to education.

Adebanjo said the government should be earmarked a substantial amount of fund towards the provision of learning and teaching materials, renovation of dilapidated infrastructure in schools and prompt payment of teachers salaries and allowances.

“Our dream and prayer are to see our schools become the centre of excellence, where teachers are free and happy to prepare our children to take their positions as future leaders.

“It is not out of place to suggest therefore that substantial state resources should be channelled to renovating dilapidated school infrastructure, provision of learning and teaching materials, prompt payment of teachers salaries and allowances.

“A lot still needs to be done as it is becoming worrisome that more and more school-age children are not enrolled in our public schools and the literacy level in the state is steadily and gradually becoming deteriorated.

“Education, more than any sector is calling for the urgent attention of state government. As much as Teachers are ready to support the state government in the onerous assignment, the morale of teachers are dampened and need encouragement. The body language of an average teacher suggests that they are not happy,” the union boss added.

He said that teachers in the state are not happy with the State government over its inability to pay leave allowance for the year 2015/2016 and 2017.

Adebanjo said the union is demanding the implementation of 2016 and 2017 promotion and payment of deductions from cooperative savings, loan refunds and the union check-off dues.