The Chairman of the school’s 50th Anniversary Committee, Pastor Sanya Ebenezer Adelola made the appeal on Saturday during the anniversary celebration held at the school premises.

Adelola, who was among the pioneer students of the institution, formerly known as Methodist Grammar School, Otan Ile, expressed concern that the number of teachers in the school had drastically declined over the years.

He recalled that during his days as a student, the school had between 35 and 40 teachers, including expatriate teachers from Sri Lanka, India and Ghana, describing the present situation as a major concern.

“When we were in school here, we used to have between 35 and 40 teachers, including expatriates from Sri Lanka, India and Ghana. But today, we have just four teachers from the Ministry of Education.

“If not for the efforts of the old students who sponsor PTA teachers, the students would have been in serious trouble. We appeal to the government to look into this situation and deploy more teachers to the school.”

According to him, the intervention of the old students had helped to prevent the shortage from having a more devastating effect on academic activities, as the alumni had been paying privately engaged Parent-Teacher Association teachers to complement the government workforce.

Adelola also called on parents to take greater responsibility for the upbringing and education of their children, stressing that teachers could not single-handedly mould the character and future of students.

He urged the students to remain focused, work hard and develop a clear vision for their future, saying determination, discipline and perseverance were essential to achieving success.

Speaking on his vision for the school, Adelola said the old students must build a stronger and more organised alumni association capable of providing sustainable support to the institution.

He said such support should go beyond the payment of PTA teachers to include the construction and equipping of a modern library, improvement of school infrastructure and provision of other facilities necessary for effective learning.

Also speaking, the Coordinator of METHSECO Old Students and President of Otan Ile Progressive Union Home and Abroad, Hon. Bello Saliu Bamidele, recalled how he became involved in efforts to revive the old students’ association after visiting the school in 2017.

Bamidele said he was concerned by the condition of the school at the time and subsequently mobilised other former students to begin efforts aimed at improving the institution.

He disclosed that the association, which initially had only 17 members, had since grown and contributed resources towards the renovation of school facilities as well as the payment of PTA teachers.

According to him, the alumni had at various times sponsored as many as 10 PTA teachers, while only four teachers are currently provided by the government.

Bamidele expressed optimism that the school would emerge as one of the best secondary schools in the local government and Osun State within the next decade.

He cited the recent achievement of one of the school’s students, who was recognised among the state’s top-performing candidates in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and subsequently awarded a scholarship, as evidence of the potential within the institution.

In his welcome address, the Principal of the school, Gbotoso K.O., described the 50th anniversary as a significant milestone in the history of the institution.

Gbotoso appealed to the government, old students, parents and other stakeholders to support the school in establishing a modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre, equipping the science laboratory and protecting the school’s land from encroachment.

He also appealed for assistance for indigent students who might be unable to pay their West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) fees.

The first teacher of the school, Mr Ezekiel Ibikunle, who also reflected on the early years of the school, recalled that he once performed the roles of teacher, principal and vice-principal simultaneously.

Ibikunle expressed delight that the school had survived and continued to produce successful graduates five decades after its establishment.

He urged former students to strengthen their contributions to the development of the institution, stressing that the continued progress of the school required the collective commitment of its alumni and other stakeholders.

Earlier, the Owa Afole of Otan-Ile, Oba Michael Tolulope Adetona, commended members of the alumni association for their commitment to the development of their alma mater, describing their interventions as a demonstration of love and responsibility towards the community.

The traditional ruler urged sons and daughters of Otan-Ile, both at home and in the diaspora, to unite and work together for the development of the ancient town.

Oba Adetona stressed that sustainable development could only be achieved when indigenes and other stakeholders pooled their resources, ideas and experiences towards addressing the needs of the community.

He said the progress recorded by the school over the years should serve as a reminder of what could be achieved through collective effort, urging the people of Otan-Ile to sustain the spirit of cooperation for the benefit of present and future generations

The 50th anniversary celebration brought together former students, teachers, parents, students, community leaders and other stakeholders who reflected on the history of the school and renewed calls for greater investment in its future.

The anniversary celebration provided an opportunity for former students, teachers, parents, students and other stakeholders to reflect on the history of the institution while renewing their commitment to its future development.