By Roland Bayode
As the first batch of the Executive Management Courses of Ondo State Public Service Training Institute (PSTI) examination commences, the Permanent Secretary/Director-General of the Institute, Prophet Ekpobomini Baptist Jide, alongside the registrar of PSTI, Mr. Frederick Orunko, on Tuesday visited the study Centers across the State to assess the atmosphere as participants commence examinations.
Among the places he visited are Victory College Study Centre Ikare Akoko, African Church Grammar School Oka Akoko, Study Centre, and Imade College Study Centre Owo.
The Director-General while addressing participants at various centers re-emphasized that the 6 months intensive program of the PSTI program is well structured to develop the educational standards, as well as to help stakeholders in education sector of Ondo State to improve their methods, techniques, and systems of operation to aid significant rendition.
He said, “Having considered the identified knowledge gaps within the public service of Ondo State, the agenda of this course is to equip the top hierarchy of the state public service with the needed capacity and certification that will upscale their performance as well as preferment on the job.”
He noted that participants should live up to their duties and constantly brainstorm and act as solution providers to solving societal crises by providing sustainable growth to the State and the country at large.
“We want you to all do things differently, be at your utmost best, and remodel the lives of the younger and coming generations, so that our future can be guaranteed. We don’t want a situation where these children will just wake up one day and start to lay curses on us, instead, they should thank us, bless us and pray for us for what we have done.
“If we do this rightly, other States will see it, buy the idea, and key into it, that way it will spread across every state in the country and we will have a new Nigeria.”
The DG wished the participants success in their ongoing examination, and extended greetings of the State’s Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele, and also from the executive Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN commending him for this great initiative as well as his continuous effort in revitalizing the Sunshine State.
About PSTI Program
The Flag-off ceremony of the Institute’s newly introduced programs was recently held at PSTI, Ilara-Mokin on Thursday, July 28, 2022, and ever since its inception, the registration for Executive Management Courses has reportedly witnessed a large turnout as participants from various parts of the state turn out to join the PSTI moving train.
The two programs that were launched are Executive Management Course for Education Managers (for Education Officers & Teachers); and Executive Management Course in Public Sector Management (for other public servants).
Facilitators and Participants react
The Centre Coordinator in Ikare Akoko, Ogunole Francis Agboola revealed that the PSTI management courses would impact the participant’s skills in discharging their duties as well as help them become better professionals and impact makers.
“Most of them graduated from school over 20 years ago and they have not had an opportunity like this to refresh their memory, which is what this course is aimed at, covering such gaps. With what they have been taught here, by the time they go back to their respective schools, our expectations from them are nothing less than better performance.
“Since the commencement of the program, everything has been going on smoothly, the lectures went on fine, the facilitators attended to their lectures promptly, and the students were indeed taught. The feedback from the students has also been impressive because they really appreciate and understand the communication in each of the courses.
“We have started the examination today and everything is calm, work is going on in the classrooms, and I believe that our students are going to pass the examination because they have really prepared. As I observed 2-3 days ago, they are always coming here to read and prepare for the exam, so for this, I want to wish them success in their examination.
“We want to also appreciate the organizer of this program because this is a very laudable program, it has brought a lot of new ideas, innovations injected into the students.” He added.
Speaking with JATS, Professor Jude Akomolafe, one of the facilitators also stated that the exercise had been very pleasing and that the teachers had been well taught how to manage students to bring the best out of them all.
He said, “This is a way of retraining our teachers so that they can be more effective in discharging their duties and responsibilities in their various schools.
“I also want to appreciate the management of this program, they have done well, the questions arrived on time, the exam commenced at the right time and the atmosphere of the examination is also very conducive for the students.
Speaking on his assessment of the courses taught, he affirmed that the students have been taught how to carry out research and how to make use of statistical tools in their study assessment.
“We have courses like research methodology, Counseling and others. The students have been taught how to manage each of their students in schools, like students with challenges, physical challenges, emotional challenges, individual challenges and how to assist the students to improve their academic performance.”
The faculty officer at VCI, Kayode Joseph affirmed that the training would have a lot of impacts and advantages and even add to the value of the teaching profession in Ondo State and Nigeria in general adding that the knowledge they have acquired will help them to surge ahead wherever they find themselves in the nearest future.
“It is said that a well beginning is already half done. We have been preparing for this exam and everyone has been cooperating, so we thank God that it has commenced today.
“I also want to thank God for enabling the management of PSTI in providing this for us all and it is our prayer that it continues in the nearest future so that everyone would benefit from it.” He added.
One of the students at the Owo PSTI Center, Prince Adegboye Kamorudeen revealed that no one would attend the training and not gain something vital, regardless of whether they are familiar with the courses or not.
According to him, “The center is okay and the program is well organized. The faculty officer gave us the needed materials and we have a smooth lecture all through.
“Our exam started today and so far, we enjoyed the exam, the hall is well arranged, and the questions are not difficult for us to handle. We have done the first paper already and we are getting set for the second paper.” He added.
Another participant in Owo Centre, Comrade Ilesanmi J.O describes the program as superb because it has helped reawaken them on what they have been taught before but forgotten.
He said, “We have been lectured, we have been tutored, we have gained a lot. This program will help improve the teaching process in the State.
“Courses like Ethics of Education, Research, Measurement and Evaluation, and others are courses that will really help us and have a great impact on our students as well. My message to the organizer is that we want this program to be a continuous one because it will help our people. Also, this should not only be used for promotion but it should be used for duty posts as well.” He noted.
JATS Online News 