By Philip Yatai
The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) has taken steps to entrench professional ethics and continuous training as essential steps towards restoring societal respect for the teaching profession.
ASUSS National President, Mr Sola Adigun, stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, at the ongoing 3rd national workshop with the theme, “The Impact of Ethics and Attitudinal Change in Managerial Leadership”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was organised by ASUSS as part of its activities to commemorate the 2026 World Teachers’ Day.
Adigun said that the move was to shift from mere annual appreciation of teachers to actionable capacity building that would upgrade teachers’ skills to meet modern demands inside and outside the classroom.
According to Adigun, the initiative stems from a need for self-evaluation within the union and the broader educational sector.
“ASUSS believes that you cannot give what you don’t have. If we have been complaining about the way society is looking down on us, then we too have to look inward,” he said.
He highlighted that upgrading knowledge and internalising strong ethical standards were key steps toward becoming ideal classroom instructors and effective educational managers.
Addressing ethical deficits reflecting on his previous tenure as the union’s Secretary-General, Adigun noted that nationwide visits revealed widespread lapses in professional ethical standards among educators.
“We have been complaining that we are not well respected, but respect begets respect. If you don’t carry yourself well, people will not respect you.
“Recognising this gap, the union’s secretariat recommended targeted leadership training to correct these shortcomings, giving birth to the annual workshop series now in its third edition over the past four years,” he said.
Adigun clarified that while ASUSS remains committed to advocating for the welfare of its members, the union’s mission extends to driving positive societal transformation through quality education.
“Our agitation is also for us to do the right thing and make the right contribution to society. We cannot give the best if we are not the best,” he added.
He explained that the union is prioritising executive and managerial training for its leaders so they can cascade effective management practices down to individual classrooms.
Also speaking, Chairman of ASUSS in FCT, Mr Julius Ogundiran, thanked the national leadership of the union for organising the workshop which he described as timely.
Ogundiran said that the training would impact teachers’ capacity and knowledge, particularly on how they could lead effectively, respectfully and be accountable.
The Lead Speaker, DrAdeola Faleye, Associate Professor of African Literature, Media, and Gender Studies, also stressed the need to enhance the teaching profession.
Faleye, of the Department of Linguistics and African Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, spoke about “60 years of standing with teachers”, stressing that beyond seeking improved welfare, teachers need to stand firm by improving on their image.
Speaking on ethical challenges in the country’s education system, the lecturer advised teachers to maintain integrity, embrace accountability and stand firm on their professional ethics.
“As a teacher, if you carry your image high and uphold the ethics of your profession, you will be respected by the school administration, the students and the society,” she said.
On his part, Mr Samuel Ojo of the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, urged school teachers to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance teaching and learning in schools.
Ojo, who spoke on “Technology, Professionalism and Ethics in the Digital Age” described AI as “an opportunity and a responsibility”.
“AI can support lesson planning, feedback, translation, accessibility, and administration.
“However, we must strike a balance between how it is being used and what it is being used for,” he said. (NAN)
Edited by Yakubu Uba
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