Lagos Education District III celebrates retirees, rewards outstanding schools and staff
… “More is expected of you” – Lagos Assembly Chair tells awardees
The efforts of some staff of the Lagos State Education District III in advancing the education sector was on Tuesday recognized by the District as the Tutor-General and Permanent Secretary of the District, Dr. (Mrs.) Olufolayimika Ayandele presented cash gift to the beneficiaries of the award.
The award and recognition comprised of Best School, School principals, Vice Principals, School Administrators, Teachers and several others.
In what could be described as a double celebration for both the teaching and non-teaching staff of the District, the award ceremony was held simultaneously with the celebration of sixty-six staff of the District who retired meritoriously from the State Civil Service after 35 years of service or upon the attainment of sixty years of age.
At the event held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, the Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu who was also the Chairman of the occasion said that the recognizing of the staff would go a long way in encouraging their colleagues to be more devoted to their duties.
Ogundimu who appreciated the teachers for raising the bar of excellence in Lagos State’s education sector, tasked the awardees to rekindle their efforts for the greater responsibilities ahead considering the special attention that the sector would now receive under this present dispensation in the State.
“This is the first time in a very long while that Education would be prioritized by any State Governor. In the Appropriation Bill submitted to the House of Assembly recently, about 48 billion naira has been earn-marked for education by the Governor,” Ogundimu disclosed.
He added that the State Government believes that there is need for huge investment in the education sector in order to get the expected outcome.
He assured the teachers that teaching aids and tools as well as teachers training would receive adequate attention in the coming year.
The House Committee Chairman on Education urged the teachers to embrace modern teaching methodology to get the attention of their students as against some obsolete teaching methods.
The TG/PS of the District, Dr. Ayandele said that the officers being awarded distinguished themselves in their various assignments and had significantly impacted education within the District and the State as a whole.
She commended the direction of the state government to focus on education and technology, describing the two as Siamese twins that must be combined for impressive education outcome.
She called on the teachers to be dynamic in their quest to acquire technological knowledge, stressing that the dynamic nature of technology itself makes it compelling for teachers to move with the trend.
She recalled that the students of the District had made the state government proud in several competitions including the GTB Principal Cup which was won by the District for the second time in 2018.
While saying that the District also produced the Best School Admin in Nigeria, Senior School category recently, Dr. Ayandele disclosed that the District decided to monetize the appreciation given to the awardees to enable them address some of their pressing needs.
An awardee at the event, Da –Silva Olakunle who was awarded as the Best District Staff, Senior Category said that his commitment and passion for the teaching profession has been his driving force, adding that he was only doing his job without expecting anything in return.
Another awardee, Mrs. Rashidat Odunuga said that her guiding philosophy in her teaching career has always been “Do unto other children how you want others to treat your own children.”
“It is my belief that God sees me even when no one was actually watching me and with that, I always put in my best in everything I do,” Odunuga stated.
She urged her colleagues not to always wait for government to provide everything they need in their duty posts before they can impart the school children, saying that government also needs the support of teachers in some areas as well.