Imade College alumni spend N11m on ad hoc teachers amid staffing crisis

Former students of Imade College in Owo, Ondo State, have formally appealed to the state government to resolve a critical shortage of teaching staff. Speaking at the grand finale of the school’s 80th anniversary celebrations held on Saturday, the Imade College Old Students Association (IMACOSA) revealed that they have been forced to hire and pay for ad hoc teachers to prevent students from suffering due to inadequate instructional personnel. The association stated that this financial intervention is necessary to bridge the staffing gap and maintain the quality of education at the institution.

Yinka Akinola, the Chairman of the Planning Committee for the school’s 80th anniversary, disclosed that the alumni association has spent approximately N11 million this year to engage these temporary teachers. Akinola noted that the funds allocated for this purpose could have otherwise been directed towards infrastructural development if the government had provided sufficient permanent teaching staff. He emphasized that the ad hoc teachers are paid reasonably well, even above the national minimum wage, to ensure their commitment and ability to support themselves while working at the college. According to Akinola, the primary challenge facing the school is not a lack of facilities, but a severe deficit in human resources.

Background

The appeal comes as the college marks its 80th anniversary, a milestone that has prompted significant investment from the alumni community. Akinola revealed that IMACOSA has spent over N200 million on various projects aimed at improving the school's facilities. Approximately 10 projects were inaugurated during the anniversary celebrations, including new classrooms, laboratories, accommodation facilities, three-bedroom flats, and public toilets. Ambassador Godson Echegile, the National President of IMACOSA Worldwide, was commended for his personal contribution, having spent over N100 million on the school this year alone. Other projects were executed by individual alumni and different groups of former students as part of their efforts to give back to the institution.

Akinola, who left the college in 1971 when the student population was approximately 300, observed that the school’s population has grown considerably since then. This growth has placed significant pressure on existing facilities, making the alumni interventions necessary to improve the learning environment. While acknowledging improvements in some areas, such as the availability of computer laboratories which were not present during his time, Akinola stressed that the lack of adequate teaching staff remains the most pressing issue. Felix Ajibade, the Vice-President of IMACOSA Worldwide, confirmed that the association had employed 29 ad hoc teachers to address the immediate needs of the school.

Why it matters

The situation highlights the financial burden placed on the alumni association, which must divert substantial funds from infrastructure upgrades to cover personnel costs. The N11 million spent on ad hoc teachers this year represents a significant opportunity cost, as these resources could have been used to further upgrade the physical facilities of the college. The reliance on temporary staff raises concerns about the consistency and quality of education, as ad hoc teachers may lack the long-term commitment and stability of permanent government employees. For the students, the shortage of qualified teaching personnel directly impacts their academic experience and future prospects. The alumni’s intervention is a stopgap measure that underscores the state government’s failure to adequately staff the institution, forcing former students to step in to prevent educational standards from declining.

What happens next

The Imade College Old Students Association has placed the responsibility on the Ondo State government to address the root cause of the staffing crisis. While the alumni have taken immediate action by hiring 29 ad hoc teachers, the long-term solution requires the government to recruit and deploy permanent teaching staff. The association’s appeal serves as a direct request for state intervention to ensure that the college is adequately staffed, allowing the alumni to focus on other aspects of school development rather than covering personnel costs.