From: Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Ogun State branch, has called on Governor Ibikunle Amosun, to appoint new Principal-General, a position which has become vacant since January, 2016.
This call was made, on Wednesday, by the state president of ANCOPSS, Ebenezer Ogundele, when he spoke at the opening ceremony of the 37th annual congress of the Confederation, held at Ilaro, Yewa Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The four-day congress which drew participants from all public secondary schools across the state, was tagged “Declining Higher Education Potential in Secondary Schools: Way out.”
Ogundele explained that Principal-General equates Permanent Secretary as peak of the career in the civil service, noting it would be fair and just if principals are appointed as PG.
He further pointed out that appointment of a PG would ensure efficient, effective and better supervision of teachers by the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).
While commending Senator Amosun-led administration for “allocating a very big chunk of 2018 budget to education sector”, Ogundele urged the governor to improve on training and retraining of teachers for effective service delivery.
“For quite a while now, the post of Principal-General (PG) in Ogun State has become vacant. The PG is equivalent to Permanent Secretary (PS) in civil service.
“By appointing the PG, the Principal would be fulfilled (career wise), this is because if the civil servant could rise to the peak of his career, by becoming a Permanent Secretary, it is only fair and just for the school Principal (after about 30 years on the job) to also rise to the peak by becoming a Principal General.
“Also for more efficiency, better supervision and effective delivery, there is need to appoint PGs to assist the TESCOM, at supervising about 15,000 teachers, spread across 20 LG and 37 LCDAs.
“Since the last PG retired in January 2016, none has been appointed,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the ANCOPSS president, expressed concerns that Ogun scored 46.77% and placed on 19th position on 2019 West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) national performance index, stressing the congress was meant to address dwindling performance and the way out.
In her address, the Chairman of TESCOM, Chief (Mrs.) Olabosipo Ogunsan, commended school heads on quality service delivery.
She reiterated Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s administration’s commitment to teachers’ welfare, and challenged the principals to float in-house training and seminars for teachers in their respective schools with a view to improving their performances.