Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi on Tuesday in commemoration of 2021 World Teachers’ Day, gave out prized possessions; computers, cash, cars, other items to best teachers in the state primary, secondary and technical schools.
Gov. Fayemi, during the presentation of the prizes, mentioned that the gesture was in fulfilment of his pledge to continuously motivate teachers in the state to enhance excellence.
He said his administration would continue to improve on the condition of service of the teachers in order to ensure that all schools in the state have qualified and highly motivated teachers.
Fayemi emphasised that there were need for more human and student-centred approaches to the use of technology and artificial intelligence in education.
He described the theme of the World Teachers’ Day 2021, “Teachers at the Heart of Education Recovery”, as befitting especially for Ekiti State where education was experiencing unprecedented recovery.
“Even though the last 18 months have been challenging in all sectors of the economy with our schools shut down for more than six months, our teachers have been unrelenting in ensuring that we make up for lost times.
“We promptly swung into action to safeguard our education sector from total collapse during the peak of the 2020 lockdown.
“This we achieved by organising “School on Air” for the pupils. A clear lesson from the pandemic is the need for alternative pedagogical platform anchored on technology.
“This administration is committed to providing technology-enhanced teaching and learning because we believe that technologically aided teaching and learning is essential to effective teaching,” he said.
The governor encouraged the dedication and steadfastness of teachers in the state, both in the public and private schools.
However, Fayemi urged them to continue to sustain industrial harmony, promote diligence in the performance of their tasks and display utmost dedication to the discharge of their responsibilities.
He assured that priority would continue to be accorded teachers’ welfare, entitlement, improved service conditions, promotion and efforts in payment of backlog of salaries owed by the last administration.
He said that those who got the brand new cars, cash gifts and other materials were examined carefully by the education authorities and found outstanding in their duties, describing the gesture as a reward mechanism.
Also, the governor recalled that Mr Asubiojo, who emerged with the star prize of the last edition of the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award, had been nominated to represent Nigeria in the African Teachers’ Award Competition.
He noted that the achievement is part of the efforts to open up Ekiti teachers to wider opportunities within and outside the country.
He said, “I wish to appreciate the teachers who have continued to excel in teaching our students.
“As a responsible government, we shall continue to improve teachers’ welfare and ensure improved conditions of service.
“We are committed to fulfilling our pledge of clearing outstanding arrears of salaries from the last administration.”