Mr Julius Oregbesan is currently the head teacher of Kith and Kin Nursery and Primary School, Owode Ibeshe, Ikorodu Lagos. He is a seasoned teacher, with over 2 decades teaching experience at all levels of education.
In this interview with Edugist, he shared his pedagogic experiences, challenges and successes. He also answered questions on fundamental issues in the teaching profession.
Question: Can you please tell us briefly about yourself?
Response: My name is Oregbesan Julius Gbenga. I am presently the head teacher of Kith and Kin Educational school, Owode-ibeshe, Ikorodu Lagos. I am married and blessed with children. At the moment, I am Masters Degree holder although I started with NCE.
Question: Thank you very much for that. As a teacher, what motivates you in this profession?
Response: I am motivated whenever I see my students perform excellently in all areas. As it is, I am a proud teacher of University graduates and many are First Class graduates who are in key positions in big industries in the country. I am a proud teacher of a lecturer in the University. Some others are Lawyers, Doctors, and System Engineers etc. Whenever I hear from them or even come in contact with them and they accord me respect, I feel proud and motivated.
Question: It is often said by many that teaching is a profession without nobility. What is your philosophy about this?
Response: I do not belong to such school of thought or agree with the philosophy. People saying that are only ignorant of what the profession is all about. A profession that produces world leaders, isnt that noble?
Question: How long have you been in this profession?
Response: 22 years
Question: What has the experience been like in terms of challenges, achievements, and remuneration?
Response: There have been many challenges in the past regarding poor remuneration, non-recognition by the government and the society at large, parents treating teachers as nannies without due respect, all manners of insult from parents to teachers. In terms of achievements, my education has been self-sponsored and it has not been really easy but God really helped me.
Question: What are you doing to improve the image of the profession personally?
Response: Teachers’ morale has to be built through training and this I do on regular basis with my teachers.
Question: Do you have any memorable experience worth sharing? Please do.
Response: My memorable experience was when I won the two best teacher of the year for two sessions consecutively in the same school.
Question: As an experienced teacher, why do you think this profession is shorn of nobility?
Response: This profession is shorn of nobility because teachers are not well paid like other professions and this is ridiculous. And at such, it discourages young trained teachers to be willing to be recruited into the teaching profession.
Question: How can the image be redefined?
Response: Nigerian government and the society need to recognize teaching profession like others and accord due respect with good salary. A functional body should be established to see to the welfare and functionality of the profession.
Question: What are your strengths as a teacher?
Response: Working under pressure without supervision and still be thorough. Managing the challenged students to develop their full potentials. Making researches on how best to improve the quality of teaching and learning. Identifying and supporting the uniqueness of each child to excel.
Question: What’s your biggest weakness as a teacher?
Response: I can’t recognize any and no one has told me any.
Question: How do you interact with parents?
Response: As head of school, I have very cordial relationship with my parents. They are free to call me even late at night for any enquiry and I always attend to their request promptly. It is not in my habit to quarrel or nag with my parents.
Question: Whats your educational background?
Response: I have primary school leaving certificate in 1985. Senior secondary school certificate in 1991, Nigeria certificate in education in Fine and Applied Art in 1996/97 from Tai Solarin College of education. I also bagged my B.Sc degree in Public Administration from the Lagos State University in 2007 and I had my masters degree in Educational Administration and planning from National Open University in 2017.
Question: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Response: I see myself becoming a school owner, educational facilitator and policy maker in the education sector
Question: How do you handle classroom management?
Response: I try to identify individual behavior and manage it appropriately; I motivate good performances and encourage slow learners. Negative classroom behavior is promptly attended to before it escalates.
Question: What’s your favorite subject as a teacher?
Response: As a teacher, my favorite subject is Creative art.
Question: Could you please tell us more about your teaching style?
Response: I do not adopt a single teaching style. I have variation of teaching styles and the situation and what I am to pass to students, determines my style. Among the styles I use are, think-pair method, group method, project based method, play-way method, etc.
Question: How do you manage your time to get all your teaching duties done within schedule?
Response: I have my to- do list on daily basis and that I follow regularly.
Question: What is the biggest challenge today’s students face?
Response: Poor reading habit, lack of concentration in classroom, Gangsterism, cultism, etc.
Question: Could you please describe your worst day in class?
Response: When a Parent came to pass an insult on me for sanctioning his child for a negative behavior.
Question: How do you motivate students to learn?
Response: I motive my students to learn by rewarding good character and giving prizes to excellent performances.
Question: What would you like the government to do if they could intervene?
Response: Government should make teaching job very competitive with good remuneration, provide good learning environment, and engage teachers more in capacity building.
Question: Any other thing you would like to talk about?
Response: More qualified people should be recruited into teaching profession; government should inspect schools from time to time through the department of quality assurance. Government should ensure that pupils, who do not complete their primary school education, should not be admitted into both private and public secondary schools.
