By BENJAMIN OMOIKE, LAGOS
The Lagos State Government is set to honour 13 public school teachers with Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), having met the test of excellence of the State’s Merit Award.
The 13 teachers to be honoured were among 23 semi finalists selected from over 3,000 applicants who applied for the State’s Merit Award selection process, captured under the State’s B.O.S Education Transformation Plan 2020.
In a press briefing on Thursday, at the State Capital, Ikeja, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, describing the effort as an initiative of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, informed by the need to honour the sacrificial contributions of teachers in grooming characters in the society.
She disclosed that while 13 of the 23 semi finalists will be awarded with cars, others will be honoured with other consolation prices.
The Commissioner mentioned that the effort is borne out of the importance of giving teachers a sense of worth and encourage them to commit more to the profession.
According to her, the selection of the awardees followed very stringent processes of applicants, who are public school teachers and screened by seasoned educationists, without interference from the State’s Ministry of Education, under which the programme is placed.
According to her, the prize award ceremony, which is slated for Tuesday 30th of March, will encourage upcoming generation of teachers to take pride of choice in the teaching profession as a career.
In her remarks, the Chairman of the Nomination Committee and the Chairman, Association of Private Educators in Nigeria (APEN), Mrs. Lai Koiki, commented that records of experience during the screening processes revealed that contrary to popular sentiment against public school teachers, it was discovered that there were capable and competent professionals in public schools.
She mentioned that the over 3,000 applicants were screened through online processes till the stage that led to the selection of the 23 semi finalists who appeared for physical interviews.
According to her, “the best of the best that applied would be awarded with 13 cars”, disclosing that all the 23 semi finalists will be enrolled for a retreat in five star hotels to enjoy all the luxuries while they would be trained to encourage them with the sense of dignity.
She remarked that the effort will go a long way in building the confidence of teachers and give a sense of prestige to them.
Comment:*
Nickname*
E-mail*
Website
