AS high schools across Delta State resumed recently for the 2025/2026 academic session, tutors in the public secondary schools were charged to reciprocate the state government’s investment in the education sector. The admonition came from the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, while on a monitoring exercise of schools in Asaba to perceive, first hand, schools’ resumption.
Itemizing such investments in education, the commissioner said the subsisting administration, led by the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori had prioritized education since assuming the political leadership of the state, noting that there had been heavy infrastructural development in the schools, training programmes for teachers, and enhanced welfare of the personnel. Re-echoing the fact that teachers are critical in defining the future of the state, she urged them to justify government efforts through diligence, punctuality and improved delivery in the classrooms.
The renewed charge to the tutors is a strong indication of past lapses on their part in the discharge of their responsibilities to educate and positively mold the character of their students. Such identifiable lapses include truancy, absenteeism, poor delivery as epitomized by lack of lesson notes, conflict of interests, indiscipline, poor supervision of students, and leadership challenges in the schools. All of the above compromise the capacity of the teachers, all of them well-trained, to effectively and efficiently deliver in the classroom.
Beyond entering the teaching profession as qualified professionals who, over the years, properly understand the ethos and ethics of the teaching profession, they have on their own or through government, sponsorship further developed their capacity to deliver. Many of them possess post-graduate diplomas and degrees in their respective fields, making them well-equipped to make very significant impact on their students in terms of learning and character.
But it becomes quite troubling that such professional sophistication of public school teachers is hardly felt in their respective schools. Isn’t it surprising that some public school teachers used to send their children to private schools where the learning environment seemed to be top notch until the excessive hike of fees forced many of them have a rethink? The situation in public secondary schools had hitherto put the institutions in some sort of dilemma.
Often, the state of indiscipline among some teachers is exacerbated by uncanny intervention of some officials of supervisory agencies of schools to shield friends and cronies over disciplinary measures. Definitely, such unwholesome interventions cannot in any way strengthen the work ethics in the schools. The ripple effects are unquantifiable.
Deficit in job performance on the part of teachers partly accounts for students’ poor performance especially in external examinations. This variable, moreover, seems to partly account for massive cheating during examinations. This, perhaps, also contributes to the wave of indiscipline and immorality among students. School authorities even seem to turn away from the wave of indecent dressing among students; sagging trousers and short skirts.
Observations of the commissioner equally apply to primary schools where some teachers do not pay serious attention to their duty. Some simply saunter into their classrooms and soon dash out to pursue their private businesses.
As it were, the state of public schools in the previous years in terms of teaching and learning was not acceptable. However, there must be a way out. There should be a rebirth, a change of attitude and behavior for impactful teaching and learning in the public schools, not just to justify government’s huge investment in the sector but also to lay a more solid foundation for a greater Delta State.
Accordingly, we advocate personal self-evaluation of the teaching staff in terms of service delivery in the past year; re-orientation of attitude to teaching; and a rededication and commitment to duty by the personnel. It is our considered view too that government should continually provide a conducive environment and the necessary tools for the teachers to perform their duties. Moreover, redeployment of teachers should, in our opinion, be strategic to maximize their productivity; and possibly provide for them transfer benefits as applicable in other arms of the public service.
The Delta State Government has indeed made huge investments in the education sector. We recall that not long ago, it also domesticated the extension of service year of teachers. This was a motivational package, among other inherent benefits of the action. We join the commissioner in urging teachers to reciprocate and justify the investments. We believe many of such expenditures are still on their way.
