By Matthew Denis

The Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Bilikisu Oniyangi, has warned principals and teachers against nonchalant attitudes.

The Commissioner who made an unscheduled visit last Thursday to schools in Ilorin East and Moro Local Government Areas of the state last Thursday, stated that such laid-back attitude of teachers will continue to affect the quality of education in the state.

She stressed that government would not tolerate any form of indolence and laziness from any teacher that fails to be at his/her duty post.

According to her, it is wrong for people to always blame the government for drop in quality of education while neglecting the poor attitude of teachers to the sector.

“As teachers, you should see yourselves as role models and character builders that should lead by example for students to learn from and be useful to the society at large,” she stated.

Hajia Oniyangi reiterated that the present administration under the leadership of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed will not condone any act of indiscipline from the teachers and principals.

On the purpose of the inspection, the commissioner said, “The inspection was meant to ascertain the true situation of our schools and to also ensure that teachers discharge their duties as expected of them.

“What I discovered during my inspection of schools is nothing to write home about, because I discovered that many teachers are uncommitted and disconnected with their jobs, those that we have are those that are concerned about what they will get from government at the end of the month.

“I am very disappointed and it is very appalling that some teachers absent themselves from school for no just reasons. Also, the principals that are supposed to ensure compliance are not on top of their jobs.

“As government, we want to eradicate the idea and mentality of students not coming to schools at the first week of resumption due to the age-long impression that there may not be lectures, ” the Commissioner lamented.

According to her, the total repositioning of the education sector is imperative, adding that no stone would be left unturned to restore the lost glory of education in Kwara State.

“This inspection that we embarked upon will be a continuous one and we therefore seek the support and cooperation of communities to ensure huge success of the ongoing education reform of the government.

“The education repositioning will be all-encompassing as no section or department will be left untouched because that is the future of our children and we cannot afford to toy with it.

“We are very committed to the repositioning of the education sector in the state and we will not allow anything to debar us from pursuing that. We will sanitise the sector from the top to bottom and there would be no sacred cow as regards the repositioning”.

Speaking further, Oniyangi said teachers found wanting after thorough investigation will be queried and would be sanctioned appropriately if their excuses are not tenable.