Various issues confronting proper delivery of education in private schools were the subject of a leadership training session organised for head teachers in Lagos on Wednesday.
The issues include poor remuneration, quackery in the teaching profession and what participants consider to be overworking and underpayment of teachers and administrators.
The event was organised by Centre for Human Security, an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
While some of the resource persons harped on the need for the head teachers to give purposeful leadership in their duty posts, some of the participants pointed out areas where they are feeling the heat.
In his presentation entitled “Leadership dynamics: Refreshing the headmasters”, the Programme Officer, CHS, Mr. Ibukun Olagbemiro, stated that leadership had been variously seen as “either a process, a function or as a position.”
He said head teachers must give purposeful leadership at all times in their respective schools, irrespective of whether they were happy or sad.
He said, “Even if you are sad, the moment you get to the gate of the school, as the head teacher, you pocket that sadness, and take responsibility for the pupils and the teachers. Whether the parents have paid their children’s school fees or not, they bring these children to you for them to learn. And they expect you to deliver.
“The proprietor places on you the responsibility to ensure all the pupils pay their school fees. Even when you are paid so little, much is required of you.”
Also, a former head teacher, Lagos State University Staff School, Ojo, Lagos, Mrs. Adeola Aribike, said the buck stops on the desk of the head teachers, who she described as servant leaders.
She explained that they must lead others to do the right thing and lead by example. Besides, she enjoined them not to hide anything from the teachers, parents and pupils.
