Tag: Kaduna state

The recent action of the Kaduna State government under Mallam Nasir El Rufai to sack unqualified teachers in his state has generated lots of furore. The move has stirred the hornet’s nest and is now at the front banner of national discourse. The fundamental question of teacher competency and pedagogy in general has for long been a major aspect of the decay in the educational system. While critics are loathsome of the governor‘s insistence on sanitizing the quality of teachers, it as well remains an axiom that what the governor did is in the long term interest of education. Many a critic argues that in the prevailing harsh economic situation where unemployment is a major factor, sacking thousands will add more to the social malaise.

This position cannot be dismissed at face value, but the counter argument in the circumstance, is much superior and supports the governor‘s stance. To tolerate the presence of teachers who will put the future of millions of our off springs at jeopardy is tantamount to breeding semi-illiterates that will benefit neither themselves nor society. Put in another way –it is better, and a lesser crime to see those teachers off than retaining them. It is a subsisting fact that lots of teachers at the primary school level, especially in the northern states are wanting in terms of their knowledge competency to prepare the children for the future at this their impressionable years, where a solid foundation for the kids must be taken seriously.

And, one can imagine if such a huge number of teachers- 20 thousand, can be discovered in the North‘s most cosmopolitan state and hence, expectedly more educated; the numbers in other states will be outrageously higher. Since the problem is not an isolate to Kaduna State or localized, it must be seen as a pervasive one and needing urgent measures to ameliorate the situation. While it is apparent that there are a plethora of problems facing the primary education sector, to wit: overpopulation of pupils, inadequate classes, equipment et al, all these problems become insignificant compared to lack of competent teachers because in the end it is what the pupils learn that matters. A whole range of factors have combined to contribute to both paucity of good teachers and even the willingness of otherwise good teachers to teach.

First, recruitments are influenced by the interests of those who have a ‘say‘ in the running of the schools; therefore, there are ubiquitous teachers recruited on the basis of relationships-emotional or otherwise. And to add insult to injury, promotions and other motivations are most times preserved for those who have somebody to recommend them rather than being outcomes of their being diligently devoted to their works. In effect morale is low among the competent teachers and they always perceive they are there for a while; as they continue to search for other jobs and ready to leave whenever an opportunity arises. And, deductibly, it is seldom one sees the professional teacher of yore, committed and enthusiastic to his/her job.

There is also the problem of funding to primary education compared to other levels in the sector.  While one could say there is some significant improvements in funding tertiary institutions, a corresponding financing of primary and to some extent secondary education remain poor. Thus, primary school funding is mostly left to the lowest tier of government- the local governments whose allocations are often tampered by their states and whatever trickles down to them are mostly misappropriated such that a backlog of months of teachers’ salaries are owed the poor teachers. Given the situation, how can good teachers be poached and retained with pittance as salaries and with almost zero motivations.

Now that Kaduna has led the way, other states should take a cue and do their audits in order to sift the chaff from the wheat. Leaders, political or bureaucrats must be bold to take difficult decisions even as vocal and selfish members of society use the political card to dissuade such moves. There is always the tendency to stymie such efforts in view of the‘ next‘ election. For instance, El Rufai‘s opponents want us to believe the sack of teachers as inhuman and sending thousands to the unemployment market; and therefore, a gamble on his part in respect of 2019! It is sheer blackmail and dishonesty as none of these critics want to dwell on the weightier consequences of leaving the future of those children in unsafe hands.

The governor cannot be faulted on motive, but method. Methinks a further opportunity be given those teachers by way of intensive training especially during vacations and further tests and retests could be conducted such that those who can sail through are retained and those that cannot cope are weeded out. And every disengaged teacher be given his due entitlements promptly; that way the pain of sacked teachers along with those of their dependents can be taken care of.

The need to audit teacher performance and competence must extend to beyond Kaduna State in respect of public primary schools especially and perhaps beyond that level of education. It is a long overdue need, in order to correct a major contributory factor in the despicable decay of education.

• Bulama writes from Mairi Village, Maiduguri, Borno State.