By Kehinde Oluwatayo

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For teaching and learning to be effective in secondary schools in Ondo State, no fewer than 3000 teachers will be required to fill vacant positions in the schools.
This was the submission of the State Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, Comrade Tajudeen Balogun during an interview with The Hope.
Balogun who stated that there are no enough teachers in these schools stressed that even the number can not fill the position of teachers who have retired.
According to him, the 200 teachers promised by government out of the 1000 to be recruited is a far cry from what is required in the secondary schools in the state.
In addition to recruiting new teachers into secondary schools in the state, Balogun called on government to do redistribution of teachers.
“In the wisdom of government sometimes ago, it drew some people who read education and were in local governments to teaching. This is good but yet we do not have enough.
“Another thing is that there are some schools that have more than enough teachers while some do not have enough, government can do redistribution to help in those areas,” he advised.
On the normal ratio of teachers to students, Balogun said the ratio of one teacher to 25 students does not apply in the state particularly in the urban areas like Akure, Owo, Ondo where there are 60 or at times 65 students in a class but in rural areas, such number can be in a class.
“Government is aware that there are no enough teachers in our schools because we tell them in all fora when we have the opportunity. But the problem, is that when teachers retire from teaching, they resume to the pension sector. So they still draw money from government coffer,”
“The state Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu admitted last week that he has not done enough for secondary schools in his first term and I pray that God will help him to make secondary education his priority as he has promised.”
He commended the state government for organising public debate for secondary school students and for giving awards to them.
He said the brilliant performances of students at the debate was a proof that public secondary schools in the state are very good.
While calling on government to also reward the teachers who are teaching the students even if it is with a hand shake from the governor, Balogun said that it will boost the morale of the teachers.