By Alexander Adejoh
Staff Forum is a termly event organized by the Anambra State Post Primary Schools Service Commission to foster understanding and unity among teachers. This initiative took a new turn as teachers in all public schools in the state, adorned in their beautiful uniforms, gathered to observe this remarkable event on Tuesday, January 14, 2020.
This term’s event which was themed: “A Disciplined Staff, Agent for Achieving the National Educational Goals”, also had the following sub-themes: ”Stress and Stress Management; Self Comportment for an Ideal Teacher”; ”Managing Resources in the Face of Recent Economic Meltdown”, and ”Staff, Right Attitude to Work”, which were critically discussed by senior teachers.
Speaking at one of the schools, Mrs Ngozi Okonkwo, the Principal, Kenneth Dike Memorial Secondary School, Akwa South LGA, stated that teachers must learn to put the interest of students first before any other thing because the educational sector was a contributing factor to national development.
Mrs Okonkwo stated this while explaining the role played by teachers as role models and nation builders. She maintained that the role of teachers to nation building could not be overemphasized, as teachers served both as parents and disciplinarians to students.
Also speaking to Fides, the Dean of Studies, KDMSS, Mr Nweke Kenneth Tochukwu, thanked the state government for the platform. He also challenged teachers to be alive to their responsibilities as disciplinarians by coming to school early; thereby leading by example and also shunning the bad habit of writing students off by calling them names.
MrNweke also added that, as disciplined teachers, they must all learn to be proud of their profession and by extension be dedicated to the teaching practice, irrespective of their family engagement or commitment to other businesses.
He pleaded with all teachers present to give their best in delivering their lectures, noting that it was one of the reasons why the country produced graduates who could barely read or write these days.
Among the dignitaries that attended the event were the Director, Science and Technology, Post Primary School Service Commission (PPSSC) Anambra State Education Board, Mrs Nkiruka Chibor; the Principal, Kenneth Dike Memorial Secondary School, Akwa, Mrs Okonkwo Ngozi; representatives of NYSC; Vice Principals and many others.