HOW TO TIE YOUR TEACHERS DOWN AS A SCHOOL OWNER This is a very interesting topic and a highly controversial one at that. I know that if l should stage a training or Seminar and caption it "HOW TO TIE YOUR TEACHERS DOWN" many school owners will be ready to pay to be in attendance. If not for anything but because of the fact that teachers have now become a very scarce commodity in the Nigerian labour market hence no school is ready to lose the ones they have. As a school business owner, would you like me to show you how to tie down teachers in your school. In as much as you are ready to learn, l am also ready to teach. Oya, come with me.... I will rather tell you the truth while you may choose to take it or simply ignore. The truth is: There is absolutely no sense neither is there any wisdom in trying to tie any teacher down. For what? You can't tie anybody down in your school and if you do so, it is at your peril. I am aware that some school owners are diabolic. They have means of tieing a teacher down anytime such teacher makes attempt to leave. School owners who are not diabolic use sensual wisdom in form of policies and other official or bureaucratic means to tie teachers down. Again, the truth is, you cannot tie any body down. Anyone who is ready to go will surely go. When it is time for a particular member of staff to leave your school, he or she will surely leave! In fact, even when a teacher is not ready to leave, do you know that circumstance or even nature itself can force such a teacher out of your school. First thing you must realize is that as far as a private School is concerned, the only permanent staff is the school owner. Once you are armed with this knowledge, you will take things easy. My dear school owners, in your own interest, you don't need to tie anybody down in your school. Instead of trying to tie any teacher down in your school, why not turn them to loyalists of your school brand. I could remember in 2017 when a friend of mine who was working as the English language teacher in a school somewhere in Ogun state secured another juicy offer with an international school in Abuja. As a result of this sudden employment, he was given just two weeks to resume in Abuja. This was a challenge! He told the school about his intention to leave his present school. The school owner could not tie him down! Instead, he was asked to get a replacement for himself. In other words, he was told to get someone as good as him to continue from where he will stop. So, this my friend persuaded me to hold the forte for him while he relocated to Abuja with his family. I stood in for him to complete that session. So, what can l do instead of tying teachers down? My dear school owner, you can do the following... 📌 Learn how to create a culture where nobody wants to leave your school. 📌 Begin to show appreciation to your teachers and acknowledging their works 📌 Begin to speak to your staff as a true leader will do. 📌 Begin to learn how to retain good and competent hands in your school If time permits, l will explain the above highlighted points in the nearest future. Let me stop here for today. In as much as you are not tired of learning, l will not get tired of teaching you. NOTE: Feel free to share this with fellow school owners and educators.