Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu interacting with pupils of Orimolade Cherubim and Seraphim Nursery and Primary School, Igbara Odo – Ekiti during an unscheduled visit to the school… yesterday.
A multilingual Language Resource Centre is to be established by the Ekiti State Government, Deputy Governor Prof Modupe Adelabu said on Monday.
The language school, according to her, will expose pupils and students to the rudiments of foreign languages especially French and Chinese and make Ekiti State children more proficient in the use of the mother tongue – Yoruba.
Prof Adelabu dropped the hint during an unscheduled inspection to public primary schools in Ekiti South West Local Government Area of the state on Monday.
The Deputy Governor spoke at St. Peter’s Catholic Nursery and Primary School, Igbara, Odo-Ekiti, where she threatened to sanction any contractor that supplied substandard furniture to public schools.
According to her, the three major local languages – Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa as well major foreign languages including German, French and Chinese will be taught at the language school to make Ekiti students mobile and freely interact with other nationals, especially in Nigeria’s francophone neighbouring countries.
Mrs Adelabu explained that beside the step being in line with the National Policy on Education, the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi is determined to implement the project because of its exponential benefits to students and economy of the state.
While urging both pupils and teachers to strive at mastering the use of English language being the medium of instruction in the schools, the Deputy Governor stressed the need for them to be well grounded in their culture and tradition by being proficient in the use of the mother tongue.
Addressing teachers at St. Peter’s Catholic Nursery and Primary School and Orimolade Cherubim & Seraphim Nursery and Primary School, both in Igbara Odo-Ekiti, Mrs Adelabu who, doubles as the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), commended them for being punctual and hardworking as they were busy teaching in their classes when she arrived in their schools unannounced.
She urged teachers to make teaching and learning more practical and interesting with the use of instructional materials distributed to schools and by equipping the ‘supermarket’ corner in their classrooms with simple teaching aids. The SUBEB chair took time to demonstrate how to simplify teaching.
The Deputy Governor also condemned the lackadaisical attitude of some teachers, reminding them of the need to reciprocate government’s commitment to their welfare.
Warning teachers to desist from acts that could sabotage government’s efforts at restoring the education glory of the state, the SUBEB chair said that any teacher found wanting will henceforth face the consequences.
“With the regular payment of salaries and implementation of pending promotion; payment of 20 per cent of basic salary as Teachers’ Peculiar Allowance; and recent approval of car/housing loans, Ekiti teachers have one of the best welfare packages in the country and therefore should reciprocate government’s gesture by giving their best to make education and human capital development agenda of the state government a huge success,” she said.
Urging education secretaries and other concerned officers at SUBEB to give more priority to schools visitation and inspection rather than staying in the office, Mrs Adelabu also charged head teachers to supervise and monitor their lieutenants more closely for effectiveness and efficiency.