Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has been credited for increasing the staff strength in secondary schools in the state from 13,730 in 2019 to 26,436, after just six years in office.
Chairperson of the Oyo State Post-Primary Schools’ Teaching Service Commission, otherwise known as TESCOM, Mrs Olubukola Oladipo, made this known on Wednesday.
The Oyo TESCOM chairperson spoke during a session of Omituntun 2.0 Inter-Ministerial Briefing, held at the Briefing Room of the Governor’s Office.
She noted that the state government recruited 10,500 teaching and non-teaching staff in just the second term of Governor Makinde.
She said the recruitments have brought about massive improvements in students’ academic performance both in internal and external examinations.
The TESCOM chairperson said that was apart from creating employment opportunities for youths and also improving the standard of living of the employed teaching and non-teaching staff.
According to the TESCOM chairperson, the commission has also succeeded in creating additional educational zones for ease of school administration.
“Four educational zones were created by His Excellency for ease of school administration now adding up to 10 educational zones; we have Ibadan Zone I, II, III, IV, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Kishi, Saki, Eruwa and Iseyin educational zones.
“We also created the Directorate of Pension and Post Services for effective and efficient service delivery for the TESCOM retirees.
“We appointed 10 tutors-general/permanent secretaries and a permanent secretary at the Headquarters for effective and efficient service delivery in areas of monitoring and supervision of teachers and students,” she said.
Mrs Oladipo added that the commission was also able to conduct the 2017 to 2024 promotion exercises for eligible officers.
“In 2024 and early 2025, the recruitment of 7,500 teaching and 3,000 non-teaching staff for the improvement in students’ academic performance both in internal and external examinations took place.
“That gave an opportunity for the employment of youths and this will have the multiplier effects of increasing the standard of living of the employed teaching and non-teaching staff.
“As of 2019 when Governor Makinde came on board, the total staff strength was 13,730 and it is encouraging to state that the staff strength has increased to 26,436.
“The state government has continued to pay running grants to the 695 public secondary schools to ease school administration for school principals,” she added.
She stated that the commission has been paying vehicle loans to interested teaching and non-teaching staff of the commission across the 10 zonal offices.
The TESCOM chairperson also noted that the commission has also introduced e-payment for payment of car loan to ease tension faced by teaching and non-teaching staff, who usually travelled to the headquarters to pick cheques.
Oladipo equally pointed out that the commission has integrated 2,000 seconded teachers from SUBEB to TESCOM and has continued to ensure that they get job satisfaction and a sense of belonging.
The chairperson stated that the commission is proposing training for the 695 principals to expose them to 21st Century school management techniques.
She lauded the governor for his magnanimity to the teaching and non-teaching staff of the commission, to whom he has continued to pay salaries as and when due, leave bonuses, 13th month salary and also giving approvals for a number of welfare programmes.
“It is important to state that Governor Makinde has also approved the terminal Grade Level of Teaching Staff to Grade Level 17,” she added.
The TESCOM chairperson was accompanied by the commission’s Coordinating Director, Reverend. A.V. Adesola.
