Benjamin Omoik, Lagos

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has declared   that the State Government will soon commence rewarding best performing teachers across public schools in all the 20 Local Governments in the state.

He stressed that the teachers that will be rewarded with cars will be determined based on competence and dedication regardless of their grade level.

The Governor made the declaration on Saturday at the Formal Launch and Graduation Ceremony of Eko-Excel Teachers Professional Development and Training Programme held at the State Capital, Ikeja.

According to the Governor, the Eko-Excel Initiative under the Lagos State Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, was conceived, designed and funded by his administration to drive excellence and learning for about 500,000 pupils across over 1000 primary schools in the state.

Over 4000 teachers from 300 schools  across  the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs in the State, were on Saturday graduated with technological tools to mark the opening ceremony of the Eko Excel Initiative.

Sanwo-Olu described the initiative as a massive investment in capacity building designed to reposition public education and improve the method of teaching to meet the standard of 21st Century and restore confidence in public school system.

“At the inception of this administration we identified three  issues, that are critical to achieving our vision for the educational sector — the need for us to upgrade teaching profession, to promote knowledge, transfer and create a workable functional model for the profession by creating an overwhelming support for learning outcomes,” he said.

He reiterated that the State’s school curriculum will be reviewed to reflect current and future industry needs.
Sanwo-Olu stressed that the allocation of over N136 billion to the education sector in the Lagos State 2020 budget is a confirmation that the government’s resolve to reposition education as a driver of development in the State is not a lip service.

He added that his Administration is committed to increasing the budgetary allocations to the educational sector in subsequent years.

“The power of education is a vital tool to any economic emancipation, to any social engineering, to poverty eradication and to national development.
“Never has it been apparent than in the 21st Century, where knowledge and technology is the driving force even in education.

“The role of teachers and their influence in the life of every child within the context of merging reality cannot be over-emphasized .Teachers are like a beacon of light guiding us in the formative years of our lives. What we learn from them remains with us through-out our lives.
“It is therefore with great honour and privilege that I join you today all my dedicated, hard-working, resilient and great teachers of Lagos State who have successfully completed the Improvement Training Programme of the Eko Excel Free Service Professional Development and Technology,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Sanwo-Olu remarked that the programme is holding at a time when all hands are on deck to ensure the quality of teaching and learning is improved across schools in the State.

He however charged the teachers to show love to the children and ensure the time they spend in school is their most enjoyable, disclosing that he would be visiting some schools unannounced in bid to put teachers to check.

“At the end of this Initiative, over 14, 000 public primary school teachers will have benefited from the Initiative.
“And I believe that this model will impact success all over our State. The importance of this programme cannot be downplayed since all the trained teachers will assist in the education and development of our future leaders,” Sanwo-Olu said.

To facilitate proper use of gadgets as well as improving teaching efficient, the Governor promised stated that State Government will embark on a free eye test assessment for the teachers in a bid to provide reading eye glasses and eye medical treatment  to those in need.
Describing the first phase of the Initiative as a “tip of an eyesberg”, he added that the effort will be extended to Junior and secondary schools in the State.

“Today’s graduation ceremony is the first batch of the graduands for this educational reform programmes aimed at developing more highly skilled teachers, supporting and motivating them to succeed in the classroom. We are also committed towards enabling Lagos State teachers to be more professional and technologically savvy in the delivery of their work. 
“At the end of this Initiative, over 14, 000 public primary school teachers will have benefited from the Initiative.
“And I believe that this model will impact success all over our States. The importance of this programme cannot be downplayed since all the trained teachers will assist in the education and development of our future leaders. 

“As a responsible Government, we will continue the massive investment in this sector with the training and retraining of our teachers, making the sector more ICT compliant, exposing our teachers to international best practices as well as ensuring our schools become a destination for work and learning.

The Governor called on the graduands to redouble their efforts to justify the Government’s huge investment in the education sector.

Speaking on behalf of the teachers,  Mrs. Kosoko Folakemi, a beneficiary from State Primary school, Idimangoro/Onipetbesi, Ikeja, LGA, commended the Governor,  describing the Initiative as a welcome development that will encourage teachers in the State.