Administrator wants transformation of teaching profession

Executive Administrator of The Foreshore School, Ikoyi, Lagos, Oyindamola Egbeyemi, has called on government at all levels to pay sufficient attention to the teaching profession, saying the country can only witness the transformation it desires in all sectors when it demonstrates great commitment to the noble career.

Egbeyemi in a chat with newsmen at the 2019 graduation ceremony of the school regretted that the profession is still an all-comers affair as little or no value is placed on teachers while policies that will spearhead the rebranding of the teaching career are not yet prioritised.

Considering the role of teachers in nation-building, Egbeyemi said they need to be routinely empowered and rightly equipped to perform optimally as obtained in developed climes.

She said: “It is extremely important that the teaching profession is prioritised and taken to the highest rank as it is done in China. For instance, teachers are seen to be at the highest level in society, but in Nigeria, we have relegated them to the background. We cannot do without education if we want the nation to move forward in this country, and teachers are the ones to facilitate that quality learning that will impact society.”

Expressing concern that the desired quality teaching and learning is being achieved in a few private schools in the country, Egbeyemi said such achievement is not sufficient, considering the country’s population and the fact that every Nigerian child deserves access to quality basic learning.

In view of that, she added that The Foreshore School is working closely with the Association of Private Educators of Nigeria (APEN) to organise a conference on “The classroom in 2030,” so as to address the issues identified.

“We recognise that there are so many schools that need help in Nigeria, both in the public and private sector. If we do not educate our people properly, our future is doomed. And so, we will be having a conference before the end of this year, where we will be inviting the ministry of education to come and experience what it is like and be abreast of recent trends in the sector. We need the conversation to go beyond the confines of the private schools. That is one of the initiatives we are taking.”

The Director of the school, Mrs. Olubunmi Egbeyemi, who expressed joy on the academic and athletic achievement of the pupils, stated: “It has been wonderful years of learning through play. I have always been an advocate for getting it right from the formative years. This is how we started Tender-loving Childcare in 2007. We have continued with the mindset and ethos of instilling a significant beginning in the children of those who have given us responsibility for the education of their children from a very young age.”