Teachers demand 26 percent of annual budget

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State on Wednesday demanded that 26 percent of the state’s annual budget be devoted to the funding of the education sector.

Mr Waheed Olojede, the Oyo State NUT Secretary, stated this on Wednesday in Ibadan during the celebration of the World Teachers Day.

Olojede appealed to the Oyo State Government to make funding of education a priority in order to improve the standards in the schools.

He said that the neglect of the sector was responsible for the falling standard of education.

Olojede urged the state government to ensure that the percentage of annual budget devoted to the education sector was implemented.

“Some state government claim to have budgeted 26 per cent for education but on enquiry on the level of implementation, one would discover that only 10 per cent get to the target.

“Education determines the success of any nation and no nation can develop beyond the level of its education.

“Government should do everything possible in terms of funding of education by providing necessary infrastructure.

“These include provision of instructional materials and teachers’ welfare among others so that the teachers and pupils would be able to learn and teach in good environment,’’ Olojede said.

The NUT secretary called on parents not to leave the responsibility of the students to government alone, adding that it was a collective responsibility.

He also appealed to parents to provide necessary learning materials for their children, saying teachers were ready and committed to work.