Against the announcement by Governor Ademola Adeleke that the 1,750 members of Imole Youth Corps would resume to teach in schools as teachers, InsightMedia can confirm that less than 10% of the number resumed and are currently across the state, while others abandoned teaching citing poor renumerations.
It would be recalled that Governor Adeleke in a statement by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed in July said 1,750 has been deployed to schools as teachers in order to shore up the overwhelming vacancies that exist in both primary and secondary schools across the state.
Adeleke said this after his administration abandoned the recruitment of 5,000 teachers it embarked upon since February 2024, citing financial constraints due to withholding of local government allocations.
The governor said, “These measures are stop gap actions to address personnel shortage in some schools and to prepare ground for the expansion of teaching personnel in critical subject areas.
“The Imole Youth Corps members posted to the schools hold Nigeria Certificate of Education and University degree qualifications and are already functioning in various schools in the state.”
The breakdown as given by the governor as follows: Ayedaade – 65; Atakumosa East 35; Atakumosa west 43; Ayedire 47; Boluwaduro 44; Boripe 33; Ede North 74; Ede South 66; Egbedore 56; Ejigbo 87; Ife central 61; Ife East 28; Ife North 39; Ife South 50.
Others are Ifedayo- 58; Ifelodun -58; Ila Orangun- 83; Ilesa East -61; Ilesa West- 68; Irepodun -43; Irewole- 74; Isokan -19; Iwo -87; Obokun- 50; Odo Otin -77; Ola Oluwa -43; Olorunda- 44; Oriade -106; Orolu -41; Osogbo -80; and Modakeke Area Office -33.
The reality check
As against the 1,750, InsightMedia gathered that less than 10% of them are in schools as other have abandoned the assignment.
When some of them were contacted, they cited N30,000 stipends as too low for the kind of job required in schools and time to be dedicated to it.
One of the corps who pleaded anonymity said, “I have family. How would I be surviving on N30,000 per month. I have to invest my time as I can’t be going to school everyday with the hope of N30,000 at the end of the month. Fueling my motorcycle alone in a month will take that amount.”
Confirming the development at a conference organized by the One House Development Initiative, the acting Permanent Secretary of Osun Teaching Service Commission, Mrs Oluwatoyin Farotimi, said the Imole Youth Corps did not resume with the schools as directed by Governor Adeleke due to low renumeration.
Farotimi said the Corps prefer other sectors to teaching because they believe the N30,000 monthly stipend is too small for such assignment.
“We know there are vacancies and the government is working towards filling them. We all know the current state of things as regards the allocations of local government. The Imole Youth Corps did not resume with us because they think they can’t be earning N30,000. We expected them to resume, but only a handful did.”
When contacted, Spokesperson to Governor Ademola, Olawale Rasheed directed this reporter to the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Moshood Olagunju who he said “is in charge of Imole Youth Corps”.
While reacting to the development, Olagunju described the complaints on N30,000 stipends as breach of contracts from the side of the Corps, stating that each of them was aware of the terms before taking the appointments.
“Were they not told of the stipend? Why are they now complaining after taking the jobs? If they are not interested in the job, they should leave it. It’s a breach of contracts to be saying that now,” Olagunju said.
When asked if he’s aware that majority of those posted to schools do not go to work, the Commissioner said he wasn’t. He added that the Ministry has a way of monitoring them and he has not got report of abscondement or truancy.
He, however, promised to commence on visits to schools unannounced to enforce compliance and sanction erring Corps.
“I’ll be visiting schools unannounced from next week. I’ll also hold a meeting with all local government coordinators to ensure compliance,” he concluded.
School authorities, parents resort to engagement of more ad hoc staff
As the vacuum across all schools continues to widen and students suffer lack of teachers to undertake critical subjects, school authorities, in collaboration with the parents have continued to shoulder the burden of hiring more ad hoc staff called PTA teachers.
The development has in some schools led to an increase in tuition/PTA levies payable by students.
The Team Lead of One House Development Initiative, Tubosun Olabomi, at a recent event, revealed that the school fees payable by students of basic and secondary schools in Osun range from N6,200 to N13,000.
Olabomi lamented how the lack of teachers which has led increase in charges, is increasing the number of out-of-school children in the state.
“Education in Osun is not free. Charges payable by students in basic schools across Osun range from N6,500 to N13,000. Our organization pays for some students who are on our scholarships. This charges is on the high side and may lead to increase in the number of out-of-school children in the state.”
He added that the ugly development also affects the schools of special needs across the state.
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