By Gafar Alabi,

As public primary schools across Ogun State resumed for the 2025/2026 second-term academic session, teachers have been charged to embrace professionalism in teaching and to nurture learners towards achieving academic excellence.

The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Evangelist Olalekan Ifede, gave the charge during a 2-day resumption monitoring exercise in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area. He urged teachers to adopt effective teaching methodologies that would enable learners to read, write and communicate confidently.

According to Ifede, basic education is a critical foundation for lifelong learning. He noted that teachers were trained professionals, with the minimum qualification being the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE), hence, they should be  encouraged to put in more efforts during the second term.

“Basic education is very important. You are all trained teachers. The least among you is NCE. I encourage you to work harder this time around. The first term is gone, and this is the second term. If much is  achieved now, the third term will mainly be for revision,” he said.

The SUBEB chairman further urged teachers to ensure the completion of the scheme of work before examinations, stressing the importance of teaching learners with patience and understanding, given their young age. He emphasised the need to strengthen the foundation of pupils by adopting modern teaching techniques such as Jolly Phonics, to enable them excel in higher classes.

He also charged the teachers to remain committed to their duties in order to attract increased enrolment into public schools, while he enjoined Old Students’ Associations and School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) to contribute to the development of their respective schools, noting that government alone could not shoulder the responsibility.

Responding, the Headteacher of St. Peter’s Nursery and Primary School, Ogidan, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Education Authority, Mrs Olufunmilayo Coker and Mrs Kehinde Muhammad of Wesley Nursery and Primary School, Iperu-Remo, appreciated the SUBEB monitoring team led by the Chairman for the visit and assured them that all lapses identified would be promptly addressed.

Other schools visited during the monitoring exercise included, NUD Nursery and Primary School, Owode Egba, and Community Primary School, Olorunda, all in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, Wesley Nursery and Primary School, Iperu-Remo, Wesley School II, Isale-Oko, Sagamu, Obafemi Awolowo Primary School, Ikenne Remo, among others.