OLD STUDENTS LAMENT TEACHER SHORTAGE IN ONDO COLLEGE EDUCATION

Former students of Imade College, Owo, have appealed to the Ondo State Government to address a teacher shortage that has forced the alumni association to fund temporary teaching staff.

Yinka Akinola, chairman of the school’s 80th anniversary planning committee, said the association had spent about ₦11 million this year employing ad hoc teachers to keep lessons running.

Speaking at the anniversary’s grand finale on Saturday, he explained that the staffing gap was diverting money from other improvements the school needed.

“The ₦11m we have spent on these teachers could have been channelled towards upgrading facilities in the college,” he said.

Akinola added that the temporary teachers received reasonable pay, above the minimum wage, to help them remain committed to their duties.

Despite that expense, the Imade College Old Students Association has invested more than ₦200 million in projects connected to the anniversary.

About 10 projects were inaugurated, including classrooms, laboratories, accommodation and public toilets. Individuals and different alumni sets contributed to the work.

Akinola particularly praised the association’s worldwide president, Ambassador Godson Echegile, whom he credited with spending more than ₦100 million on the school this year.

He said the college’s growing student population had increased pressure on facilities, making alumni support necessary.

However, he stressed that improved buildings alone could not resolve the shortage of teaching personnel, urging the government to give staffing urgent attention.