Osun Faces Teacher Shortage Crisis As CRG Urges Immediate Recruitment

—Calls For Prompt Issuance Of Appointment Letters To Already Shortlisted Candidates

The Center for Responsive Governance (CRG) has raised alarm over the growing shortage of qualified teachers in Osun State public schools and has called on the state government to expedite the recruitment process it announced earlier in the year.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Ayodeji Ologun, and made available to New Telegraph, in Osogbo, on Thursday, the organization urged Governor Ademola Adeleke-led administration to swiftly recruit qualified teachers and issue appointment letters to candidates who were already shortlisted earlier this year.

“The Osun State Government should urgently recruit qualified teachers to address the existing shortage in public schools and improve the quality of education,” the statement read. “There is no doubt that the state is facing a significant shortage of qualified teachers across various subjects. This impacts the ability of schools to provide quality education and results in overcrowded classrooms and overburdened staff.”

The group expressed concern over the government’s delay in implementing its own directive issued in February 2024 to recruit 5,000 teachers, warning that further delays could lead to serious disruption in the education sector.

“This delay is a cause for concern. The government should expedite the process of finalizing appointments and ensure that all qualified candidates receive their letters promptly,” Ologun added.

The CRG emphasized that transparency and fairness must be ensured throughout the recruitment process to maintain public trust. It also called for the state government to consider increasing the number of teachers to be hired in order to meet the rising demands in the education sector.

“Recruiting qualified teachers is essential for maintaining educational standards and ensuring that students receive the knowledge and skills they need,” the statement concluded.

The call from the advocacy group comes amid growing concerns from educators and parents over the capacity of the current teaching workforce to meet the needs of a rapidly growing student population in Osun public schools.