RELIEF FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHERS IN AKUTE- OGUN STATE

In order to ensure the safety of children, teachers and other non-academic staff and stakeholders who transact with educational institutions across the country, the Federal government ordered the total shutdown of all schools. Whilst the lockdown order had impacted pupils/students in terms of their personal development timelines, teachers had been very badly affected economically; even more so, teachers in the private schools. This is because private schools operate fully on internally generated revenue and do not enjoy the benefit of government subventions. As a result, most private school teachers have been relieved of their posts, or have been made to take slashed or no salaries at all, without an end to the covid-19 pandemic in sight. One of such Nigerian communities which accommodates middle to low income earning private teachers is Akute in Ogun State. The Akute community in Ifo local government of Ogun State and characterised by dilapidated roads, nucleated settlement patterns and sprawling informal economy. The Fellow Citizens Christian Centre, a religious outfit in the heart of Akute, brought the attention of the Oladele Fajemirokun Foundation to the plight of private school teachers, who albeit their meagre salaries had to endure months without pay due to the crippling effect of the pandemic on their places of work. This intervention sought to alleviate the economic burden of 600 households represented by private teachers through the provision of food aid which included rice, beans, garri, sugar, indomie, sardine and cooking oil.