School Principals and their Vices have been called upon to continually play their pivotal roles in the administration of schools through provisions of quality leadership, ensuring discipline, supervising teachers, managing resources and maintaining a conducive learning environment for their students to thrive.

The State Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya made the call while delivering a keynote address to declare open a 2-day capacity building workshop for school principals, vice principals, middle-level teachers and newly appointed Ogun Teach interns now permanent teachers in the State, with the theme "Reforming the Teaching Profession" organised by the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.

According to him, the workshop designed for the participants represent another milestone in the collective commitment of all stakeholders to enhance the quality of education in the  Gateway State.

Mr. Onasanya expressed unalloyed appreciation to the teacher-friendly Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his relentless support for education as his efforts have continually yielded remarkable results, and added that the State has remained at the forefront of educational transformation by ensuring the recruitment of qualified teachers, investing in school infrastructure and the implementation of various capacity building initiatives for teachers across the State.

He also commended the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission for its unyielding commitment to maintaining high professional standards in the teaching profession through strategic policies and initiatives that sustain healthy practices that promote professionalism and ethical standards among the teachers.

"We must all recognise that teaching is not a job but a calling that requires passion, dedication,  expertise and a commitment to lifelong learning. The need to reform the teaching professional is both essential and urgent in addressing the evolving needs of education and our society at large. The expectations placed on teachers today demand that we create a profession that attracts, retains and supports the best minds, thereby ensuring that our students receive the highest quality of education possible" Onasanya said.

In his remark, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu said the workshop was very important because 'if you don't train them you don't blame them', and added that trainings have changed the image of educators, students and the Teaching Service Commission since the inception of the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun.

He urged the participants to know that teaching is a calling and that it has gone beyond the mastery of their subjects alone but must be integrated with technology especially in this era of Artificial Intelligence.

The Full Time Commissioners II and IV, Hons. Moruf Adesegun and Adeyemi Ademola in their separate remarks urged the participants to open their hearts and minds to learning during the workshop so as to learn, unlearn and relearn as well as share the knowledge acquired amongst their subordinates to achieve overall positive results.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the Commission, Mrs. Melutia Ogunremi said the capacity building was meant to change the future of education in the State and take it to the next level.

She thanked Governor Abiodun for the attention given to teachers and the education sector in the State especially the recent appointment of a teacher,  Mr. Kayode Adewale as the 'Education Ambassador' for his exemplary performance in the sector.

Permanent Secretaries, Principals-General and other stakeholders in the education sector across the State were among the dignitaries at the event.