No going back on teachers’ assessment, says Oshiomhole

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has said the state government would not not go back on the conduct of the assessment for teachers in the state.

He made the remark yesterday, during a meeting with the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) at the Government House, Benin City.

Oshiomhole said: “We are not re-inventing or breaking a new ground. It is not a new chapter that is being opened. We have resolved, we are firm that the state cannot possibly continue to leave the children in the hands of those who will destroy their future.

“The country is bigger than any individual and the state is bigger than the individual. Leaders will go but the people will remain. I will be surprised that those whose profession is teaching, setting examination and writing examination, regard assessment as something degrading.

“In any case, our ego must not be bigger than the ego of the people of the state. It is very clear that our parents want to be sure of those they leave their children with. It is clear that Edo people want to be certain that when they drop their children in school, they are dropping them in good hands.

“You cannot place the job of one person over and above a whole generation. That will be irresponsible on our part.  The future of the child is something that cannot be compromised. The whole idea is to establish, who in the first place, is a qualified teacher.” Oshiomhole explained  that many mistakes had been made in the past, adding that it should not be allowed to continue.

He said: “Like they say, the country is greater than any individual. It is greater than me and it is greater than the teacher. My job is important but it is not as important as the future of the state. If there is conflict between my security of tenure and the security of the state, my security of tenure will give way because leaders will come and go but the people remain.”

He reminded the ASUSS leaders that some states had done the test and the teachers that sat for them belong  to NUT and ASUSS, adding that there is nothing new in what the Edo State Government is about to do.

The National President of ASUSS,  Comrade Charles Ifaluyi, commended the governor for the giant strides