How Wole Oke’s Plan to Recruit 700 PTA Teachers in Ijesa North Met TESCOM’s Resistance

 Ijesa North Federal Constituency | January 15, 2026

In the 2023/2024 academic period, a proposed plan to recruit about 700 Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers across public schools in Oriade and Obokun Federal Constituency sparked quiet tension between constituency intervention and statutory authority, ultimately stalling the initiative.

Findings by Oriontimes indicate that the plan, linked to Hon. Wole Oke, representing Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency, was conceived as a stop-gap measure to address acute teacher shortages in public primary and secondary schools within the constituency. Several schools in the area had reportedly been grappling with understaffing, leading to overcrowded classrooms and disrupted learning schedules.

However, before the recruitment could take off, the Osun State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) issued a directive cautioning school principals, particularly within the Ijesha education zone, against engaging PTA teachers without the Commission’s formal approval.

A copy of the directive sighted by Oriontimes warned that no teacher should be allowed into classrooms without clearance from TESCOM, citing an existing circular from the chairman’s office. The memo further urged education administrators to exercise caution regarding what it described as “politically inclined PTA teachers recruitment,” underscoring the Commission’s exclusive mandate over teacher employment in public schools.

The directive effectively brought the proposed recruitment to a halt.

Sources familiar with the plan said the intervention was not intended to undermine due process, but rather to provide immediate relief to schools suffering manpower shortages while awaiting broader government recruitment. According to the sources, the proposal leaned on the long-standing practice of PTA-supported teachers, a model that has historically helped fill staffing gaps in many public schools across Osun State.

TESCOM, on its part, maintained that while the challenges of inadequate staffing were acknowledged, any form of teacher recruitment, temporary or otherwise must follow laid-down procedures to ensure quality control, uniformity, and accountability within the education system.

While constituency-driven initiatives can be well-intentioned, regulatory agencies are increasingly wary of arrangements that may blur institutional authority or politicise recruitment processes.

As of the time of filing this report, the proposed engagement of the 700 PTA teachers had not materialised, and there has been no public confirmation that the plan was revisited under a TESCOM-approved framework.

The development leaves unresolved questions about how best to balance urgent classroom needs with bureaucratic safeguards, especially in constituencies where teacher shortages continue to affect learning outcomes.

Oriontimes will continue to monitor developments surrounding teacher recruitment policies and constituency interventions in Osun State’s education sector.