The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, has asked the Osun State Government to commence the implementation of the Teachers’ Elongation Policy, as stated in the policy guideline.
The Osun CDHR also asked the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, to exercise political will and increase the teachers recruitment to 8,000 and implant the reclassification of schools back to the 6-3-3-4 system as stipulated in the White Paper issued after the education summit.
The organisation alleged that the Osun Head of Service, Samuel Ayankeye Aina, is displaying laxity towards the policy.
In a statement signed by its Osun Chairman, Emmanuel Olowu, it revealed that CDHR took up the struggle to demand full implementation of the policy guidelines of the teacher’s elongation policy as a result of the poor academic performance of students in the state.
He also added that inadequate subject teachers in the state’s public schools especially ones located in the rural areas was part of the consideration.
According to him, “It should be clear to the world that the report of the Education Summit led by Professor Oyesoji Aremu, attested to the fact that Osun State has a dearth of teaching personnel.
“The teacher’s elongation policy is a Federal Government policy under the leadership of former president Muhammadu Buhari and was domesticated in Osun State during the administration of Governor Gboyega Oyetola on 1st of May 2022. This was effected through the office of the Head of Service through a circular with reference number SMD.61/VOL.111/32 dated 18th of May, 2022. The circular stated that the retirement age/length of Service of Teachers in the state of Osun has been elongated to Sixty Five (65) years of Age/ and Forty (40) years of Service.”
Olowu revealed that the policy stipulated that, “the retirement age/length of service of teachers in the State of Osun has been elongated to sixty-five (65) years of age/forty (40) years of service.”
“Eligibility: The Officer must be within the education cadre recognized in the scheme of service, the Officer must be registered with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), the officer must be medically fit as ascertained by a qualified Medical Doctor, the officer must not be under any disciplinary procedure.
“Procedure: Eligible officer will be required to apply six months before he/she attains the age of 60 years or 35 years of service whichever is earlier, the application must be endorsed by the Head Teacher/Principal of the eligible officer and addressed to the Permanent Secretary, of the Ministry of Education, the application must be accompanied by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria’s (TRCN) Certificate and License, and a certificate of medical fitness obtained from Government Hospitals, eligible applicants will be screened by a Committee set up by the Office of the Head of Service, all successful applicants will be deployed to serve as teachers in schools, all unsuccessful applicants will be advised to retire.”
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has urged the Osun State Government to begin implementing the Teachers’ Elongation Policy as outlined in the policy guideline. The Osun CDHR also called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to demonstrate political resolve by increasing teacher recruitment to 8,000 and reinstating the reclassification of schools to the 6-3-3-4 system, as specified in the White Paper issued after the education summit. The organization accused the Osun Head of Service, Samuel Ayankeye Aina, of showing negligence toward the policy.
In a statement signed by its Osun Chairman, Emmanuel Olowu, the CDHR disclosed its advocacy for the full implementation of the teacher’s elongation policy due to the poor academic performance of students in the state. Olowu highlighted the insufficient number of subject teachers in public schools, particularly those in rural areas, as a contributing factor.
Olowu stated, “It should be noted that the Education Summit report led by Professor Oyesoji Aremu confirmed Osun State’s shortage of teaching personnel.”
He further explained that the teacher’s elongation policy, which was a Federal Government initiative under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership, was adopted in Osun State during Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s administration on May 1, 2022. This adoption was facilitated through a circular issued by the Office of the Head of Service with reference number SMD.61/VOL.111/32 dated May 18, 2022, extending the retirement age/length of service of teachers in the state to sixty-five (65) years of age/forty (40) years of service.
Olowu elaborated on the policy’s provisions, stating that eligible officers within the education cadre recognized in the scheme of service must apply six months before reaching the age of 60 years or completing 35 years of service, whichever comes first. Applications must be endorsed by the Head Teacher/Principal and submitted to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, accompanied by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria’s (TRCN) Certificate and License, as well as a medical fitness certificate obtained from government hospitals. An evaluation committee established by the Office of the Head of Service will screen eligible applicants, with successful candidates deployed to serve as teachers in schools, while unsuccessful applicants will be advised to retire.