…sets to Begin Implementation
By Precious Oham
Ekiti State government on Thursday engaged stakeholders in the educational sector on the proposed Code of Conduct for both teaching and non-teaching staff in public and private schools in the State.
The One-Day Stakeholders Engagement on the Code of Conduct for Education Officers, Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff was organized by the Ministry of Education through the World Bank project; Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning And Empowerment, AGILE, Project and carried out by Victoria Fehintola Moses Dada Foundation.
Commissioner for Education, Dr. Kofoworala Aderiye, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Teaching Service Commission, Michael Boluwade said the document will assist and improve the learning process in Ekiti schools.
According to him, “This document will assist us greatly. It will fulfill the extant rules and regulations that we have in our public service of Ekiti State including the private sector in our education sector.
“We need to appreciate the State Governor for approving this program. The government is doing a lot in the State particularly in the education sector. We can see most of our schools are being renovated through AGILE and they are having a facelift.”
Speaking with newsmen, Project Coordinator of AGILE, Mrs Yewande Adesua said the Code of Conduct will establish a standard behaviour in Ekiti schools and build trust among the teachers.
She explained that the Code of Conduct will complement the existing laws guiding the rules and regulations of the public service in the State adding that it won’t disregard the existing laws.
Her words: “The AGILE Project is basically established to improve secondary education in our schools and to ensure that the educational officers, teachers, and non-teaching staff conduct themselves very well in the schools.
“In the past, there have been cases of teachers maltreating students and Gender-Based-Violence and all that. The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to guide the behaviours of teachers and non-teaching staff in our schools.
“We know that there are subsisting laws and rules guiding public service in Ekiti State. The Code of Conduct doesn’t disregard or disrepute these documents but it complements it.
“It is calling all the staff to attest to this document. They will sign and take ownership of it. With the attestation, they will be able to hold them responsible for their behaviours and they will be able to account for themselves. It also speaks of accountability on the part of our teachers and non-teaching staff in our schools.”
The Consultant of Victoria Fehintola Moses Dada Foundation, Dr. Comfort Yemisi Afolabi, who made a presentation on the draft of the Code of Conduct to the participants equally explained that it will serve for educational progress in the State.
She said: “The Code of Conduct will guide the school system both public and private schools so that a comfortable environment will be created.
“There will be safe environment in our schools for teachers to work and for learners of learn. It’s also for educational progress and achievement of our children in Ekiti State.”
Some of the stakeholders, who spoke at the event called for legislation of the document while calling for monitoring in all schools towards ensuring that both existing and newly recruited teachers sign the document via online method.
One of the participants and Tutor General South, Chief Femi Ogungbamigbe said: “This is good for us at this moment to guide the profession which we cherish. This document should be taken round in all the senatorial district so that this type of program will come up so that everybody will know.”
The Principal, Government College Oye-Ekiti, Esther Adeniyi said, “The draft Code of Conduct is well comprehensive and it contains every aspects and ethics that will guide both teachers, Non-Teaching Staff and the students as well. It’s a well comprehensive document that should be adopted.”
The stakeholders adopted the document unanimously while other dignitaries present at the event include; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Olusesan Alabi, Executive Secretary, Education Trust Fund, Bose Jegede, Tutor General North, Adesola Olukorede, among others.