From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The publisher of Policy and Lawmakers’ Magazine, Prince Friday Ogungbemi, has attributed what he described as the poor performance of the education sector in Kogi State to a shortage of teachers.Ogungbemi made the assertion on Tuesday in Lokoja while addressing journalists on concerns about access to affordable education in the state.
He said the state had not conducted what he described as a major recruitment exercise for teachers in several years, despite what he called an urgent need for additional manpower across schools. “The competency and expertise of teachers are not in doubt, but the inadequate number of teaching staff in schools has continued to hinder optimal performance,” he said.
Ogungbemi cited figures he attributed to the Kogi State Schools Board, saying the board identified a need for about 9,979 additional teachers in 2022. He said approval was reportedly given for the recruitment of 3,979 teachers, but only about 1,108 were recruited.
He urged Governor Usman Ododo to consider addressing the reported staffing gap and other challenges affecting schools across the state. Ogungbemi also raised concerns about teacher shortages in primary schools, claiming that some schools were struggling to operate due to inadequate staffing.
He appealed to the state government to review its employment policy and prioritise the recruitment of qualified teachers at both the state and local government levels. He also called for improved conditions of service and investment in school infrastructure to strengthen the education sector.
