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Tag: teachers

  • Poly teachers end strike

    Poly teachers end strike

    Lecturers of the Plateau State Polytechnic have called off their two-month old strike and asked the students of the institution to resume classes immediately.

    Nanzim Jibrin who announced the suspension of the strike on behalf of his colleagues Tuesday in Jos said the PLAPOLY branch of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has decided to pull out of the strike after considering its legal implication.

    Jibrin, a Barrister, said: “Yes it is true we embarked on strike about two months ago but after a second thought we have realised that the union that declared the strike did not follow the due process, we have therefore resolved to pull out of it.

    “We have also realised that frequent strikes are doing serious harm to our education sector. The students are losing, the lecturers are not happy and it is not in the interest of government and parents.

    He added further: “We lecturers of the Plateau State Polytechnic have resolved to pull out of the strike. We are asking our students to resume immediately and we call on other tertiary institutions under the joint union of tertiary institutions in the state to also see reason to call off the strike.”

    Similarly, President of the Students’ Union of the institution, Comrade Victor Wilfred has praised the lecturers for suspending the strike and called on all students all over the country to resume immediately.

     

  • Autonomy, teachers hinder college’s accreditation

    As the Provost of the Anambra State College of Health Technology (ASCOHT), Obosi, Dr Maurice Chuks Agu administered matriculation oaths on 300 fresh students last Saturday, he urged Governor Peter Obi to facilitate the institution’s autonomy and employ more teachers.

    Though he praised Obi’s support and provision of learning facilities to the college, he lamented that lack of autonomy and employment of permanent lecturers were hindering the institution from securing final accreditation from various accreditation bodies.

    He said the government has provided the college with a functional library, well-equipped laboratories, extra classrooms, and hostels among others.

    Responding, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Lawrence Ikeakor, represented by the permanent secretary, Dr Austin Nnalue, congratulated the students for scaling the admission process and assured them that the school will continue to get response from the government on their problems admitting that there is a great need to get capable hands that will keep up the number of intakes in the school.

    “Government is making sure that the resources required for final accreditation is in place, you will definitely get response from the government,” he assured.

    Nnalue, who praised the students for their good conduct, disclosed to their delight that the college has reached an understanding with the Federal University of Technology (FUTO) Owerri to admit suitable graduates for degree programmes.

    Addressing the students, the Provost urged the students to use their time wisely and shun all forms of anti-social vices as the college does not tolerate such.

    Agu further implored them to always explore legitimate ways of expressing their feelings without recourse to violence and destruction of public property.

    Some of the students expressed happiness that they were lucky to be among the 300 students admitted out of more than 2,000 applicants.

     

    They also thanked the government for providing learning facilities and constructing the road that leads to the college but called its attention to the problem of inadequate power and water supply which makes learning difficult.

     

  • ‘Lagos committed to teachers’ welfare’

    ‘Lagos committed to teachers’ welfare’

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ifako-Ijaiye 2 Constituency, Ipoola Omisore, has assured teachers of the state government’s commitment to their welfare at all times.

    Omisore, who is the Chairman, Committee on Special Duties and House Services, gave this assurance at the seventh annual merit award of the Lagos State Education District 1, held at the Government Senior College Hall in Agege.

    Assuring that there is hope for Lagos State teachers, the lawmaker said Governor Babatunde Fashola is more interested in teachers’ progress.

    “We know that teachers are very important to our society and they are entitled to better life. Teachers in Lagos State are entitled to 13th month salary and they should not beg for it, but we all know that Lagos has a lot of challenges confronting it.

    “But I am assuring you that when I get back to the House, this issue of 13th month salary will be addressed. By the grace of God, if it comes in next year’s budget, we as lawmakers will support it,” he assured.

    Responding after he was presented with the award of Philanthropist and Lover of Education by the district, Omisore said: “I feel fulfilled. I never knew people were watching me when I became dedicated to the course of education in my constituency, Lagos and Nigeria at large.

    “Over the period of time, I have been running and sponsoring free WAEC lectures ensuring that students in my constituency pass vital subjects in their WAEC and in the last four years, their results have continued to get better.

    “So calling me today to come and receive an award is so special to me because in Nigeria of today, there are many phony awards, but this is real and I am very glad.”

     

  • Exit of a teachers’ teacher

    Exit of a teachers’ teacher

    The late renowned author, Prof Chinua Achebe, was a man of many parts. He was a writer, teacher, broadcaster, social critic and humanist. For years, his books were used as Literature in English texts in secondary schools.

    Secondary school pupils in the 70s and 90s answered comprehension questions from passages drawn from some of his books like Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease, Anthills of the Savannah, and Arrow of God.

    Portions of the novels have also featured in many English textbooks for junior and senior secondary schools.

    Many who read his books, recall the joy they derived from the exercise. They praise the literary icon for his contribution to education.

    They said the books, especially Things Fall Apart, which he wrote at 28, teaches culture, morals and socio-political history.

    By the time of Achebe’s death, the book had sold 14 million copies and had been translated into 45 languages worldwide.

    Former Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs Sarah Sosan said the late Achebe built people through his books.

    “It is quite painful that at this time in our country we lost a person like that, especially somebody who holds his integrity highly and I think this is a lesson for the junior ones. They believe that it is only when you build roads but you have to build the people. I read almost all his books; Things Fall Apart was the most popular with students. How Okonkwo ended is quite something that you cannot juxtapose. You will say this is somebody that is so powerful but at the end of it all, the family separated,” she said.

    Mrs Alero Ayiola Otobor, the Chief Executive Officer of Incubation Africa, a firm that seeks to reform teacher training, said the late Achebe inspired a new generation of writers, who are excelling. Nigeria, she suggested, could popularise his books more by using the platform of the World Book Capital to be hosted by Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, next year.

    She said: “I think for education, if we ride on that with the World Book Capital coming to Port Harcourt I think we are going to create a love for his books and a desire once again to read books in different forms.”

    Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) Prof Godswill Obioma said he is reading Things Fall Apart again, adding that the late Achebe’s books will remain relevant for a long time.

    “I take delight in reading his books and as long as those books are extant which I think they are, they will always be used for schools and for those who love to read,” he said.

    Mr Isa Mohammed, a teacher at King’s College, Lagos, said the author inspired him as a pupil.

    “It is a great loss losing Chinua Achebe. When I was in secondary school it was the late Chinua Achebe’s writing that inspired me, honestly speaking, because when I read his novel it was as if I was losing a lot of things, at that time I don’t know east, west and south because I am from the North but through the late Chinua Achebe’s novels especially these two novels Arrow of God and Things Fall Apart. I think the man is a blessing. I am an activist and a comrade. When chinua achebe rejected the honour given to him saying at that moment it was not a deserving honour, I felt like God how I wish this man was of our own age group so that we can go to him, and share thoughts on how to move this nation forward. We have lost a great comrade”.

    Mr Emmanuel Oriakhi, Chairman, Kings College Parent Teacher Association (KCPTA), said he was surprised to find the book in other languages outside Nigeria.

    “When we read Things Fall Apart it was like a standard for all of us, even our examination and our English literature. When I travelled out of the country I saw the book written in French and German languages and I said to my self: ‘So people all over the world are reading it?’ Its has it own morality and has a way of striking our young ones and putting them in the right direction; it is a book all young men should read”.

    Otunba Dele Olapeju,Principal Kings College, said the late Achebe should be celebrated.

    “We do not mourn Achebe we celebrate him because any writer is a living legend. Chinua Achebe is the literary genesis of African literature in the world. In line with our school song which says service to the leaving and honour to the dead that’s why we are celebrating the renowned and African writer; we want to tell our children to be like him because he is a role model for them. Even at the corners of their room they can start writing something and then become literary scholars”.

    An English Literature teachers in a private school in Ojo, a Lagos suburb, Mrs Chinwe Adia, lamented none of the late Achebe’s books has been recommended by government for use in public schools.

    Mrs Adia said: “My grouse with government is that none of his (Achebe’s) books is being used in our public schools today. Look at his book, Things Fall Apart, it was published nearly 60 years ago but its message is still apt and very relevant to our present socio-economic challenges. It’s like Achebe actually had a foresight. I see him as a seer who through the book projected the future. But unfortunately, we don’t have listening leaders.”

    A parent, Mr Olaosebikan Sanusi 60, said though he was a science pupils, he read Achebe.

    “I was never an Arts student so I did not do Literature in English while in school. But I will never forget some Chinua Achebe’s books, especially the Things Fall Apart. That name stuck to my memory. Despite that I rate myself poor when it comes to reading novels, I still try to read Achebe’s Things fall Apart, Arrow of God and Man of the People.

    An English Language teacher at Ojo High School, Mr James Onuoha said the country owes the late Achebe a lot.

    Onuoha said: “What Nigeria can do to appreciate this distinguished African son is to single handedly fund and publish Things Fall Apart, a book that launched Achebe into limelight and give it free to all secondary school pupils. This will help pupils to appreciate the untiring efforts of our literary giants like Achebe and Soyinka and the lofty ideas they projected.”

  • Kebbi to recruit 8,000 teachers

    Jobless teachers in Kebbi State may soon smile as the government is set to employ 8,000 teachers from the zonal education centres as part of efforts to reduce the impact of the dearth of teachers.

    The Commissioner of Science and Technical Education, Alhaji Ruwa Dakingari, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi that the employment would be spread evenly among the state zonal education centres.

    He said the minimum qualification required of the teachers were Bachelors Degree, Higher National Diploma (HND), National Certificate in Education (NCE) or Diploma in Arabic and Islamic knowledge.

    Dakingari said recruitment at the Argungu and Bunza zonal education centres had started and it would be conducted in the Jega, Yauri and Zuru zonal education centres.

    He added that the exercise would be concluded this month.

    He said the dearth of teachers was felt more at the primary school level than at the secondary schools and higher institutions. He expressed the hope that the trend would be reversed.

    “Having completed the construction of some new schools, the ministry has embarked on the decongestion of schools to provide an environment that is conducive for teaching and learning.

    “The renovation of the schools and infrastructure as well as the construction of new science laboratories for the schools will also start soon.’’

  • Headmaster, teachers injured in Kano attack

    Headmaster, teachers injured in Kano attack

    Gunmen on Tuesday in Kano attacked a primary school in Hausawa quarters, Kumbotso local government area, injuring the headmaster and two other teachers

    During the raid, the school headmaster and three of his teachers sustained gunshot wounds and were admitted at the Mallam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.

    The spokesman the state police command, ASP Magaji Musa Majiya, said the gunmen attacked the school on motorbikes at about 8.30am.

    He said the gunmen immediately fled the scene after the attack.

    Majiya said the wounded teachers have been treated and discharged from hospital, while bullet has been extracted from the body of the headmaster.

    He, however, said the headmaster is responding to treatment.

    According to the police spokesman, the attackers stormed the school at about 8.30am when the teachers and pupils were in the assembly ground.

  • Teachers learn literacy techniques

    Mrs Adenike Ogunade is looking forward to teaching her Primary 1 class at the Wesley Primary School, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos.

    After years of frustration teaching young children to read, she was one of the 100 public school teachers shown the key to teaching literacy to pupils.

    The Primaries 1 and 2 teachers attended a five-day workshop at the Lagos State Education Resource Centre, Ojodu, during which they learnt the techniques of teaching literacy.

    “I really enjoyed this seminar. It is different. I acquired knowledge according to how I should teach,” she said.

    The programme anchored by GFR Educational Services exposed the teachers to how to teach spelling, comprehension, reading, writing and handwriting.

    Mrs Olubunmi Salako, Coordinator of the programme also said the teachers were taught how to integrate the methods into teaching other subjects apart from Literacy.

    “This programme is an integrated approach to teaching and learning you can teach one subject and teach different areas of other subjects. For instance if you are teaching nouns, you are teaching letters, words, sounds, punctuation and spelling. And the beauty of it is that you can integrate other subjects with English Language. I applied it to Mathematics and Science,” said Mrs Salako, who is the Administrator of GFR.

    The teachers said they looked forward to trying the techniques, especially as they had difficulties teaching their pupils in the past.

    Mrs Salome Dawodu, who teaches Social Studies at Oroku Primary School, Ebute Metta, was excited about the training, which she said would make teaching pleasurable for them.

    “It has been worthwhile. Firstly, teaching English Language, especially to the little ones has been so traumatic, a night mare. I would pick my lesson note and think hard about how to bring myself to their level because I used to teach senior classes before. In fact I cannot wait to start teaching. I am so eager to go and start impacting them,” she said.

    Mr Ajibola Bamidele, a Mathematics teacher at St Paul African Church School, Mushin, said he had longed for such exposure in the past.

    “I have been looking forward to this type of training for long. Many children have problems reading. Secondary school teachers have complained that children passed to them from primary school cannot read well. When I go back to my school, I will ensure the children go at their own pace. I will ensure I practice all the methods we were taught,” he said.

    With the training, one of the facilitators, Mrs Adetoun Olaogun said the pupils were teachable but for long teachers lacked the effective methodology to teach them.

    She said: “Most of what the teachers’ learnt was methodology. Once they are able to improve their method of teaching, children will learn well.”

    Another facilitator, Mrs Bimpe Giwa, said the effect of the training would have a multiplier effect in all the levels of education.

    “It will address the issue of reading and comprehension in schools. Once children are able to read and understand there is nothing you cannot teach them. The secondary schools and tertiary institutions will have fewer problems because primary school is the foundation,” he said.

     

  • Incompetent teachers

    Incompetent teachers

    •This is a serious problem that governments must address because it is ‘garbage in, garbage out’

    THE problem we are facing today is as a result of problems in the education sector … Our failure to train these youths is making us to spend more money on security. If you fail to spend money on the education of the children, one day you will spend more money in buying bullets to kill them.” This statement from the Chairman of Kaduna State Universal Basic Education, Ishaya Dare Akau, in reaction to a survey recently carried out on teachers in the state, is thought-provoking.

    At least 1,300 teachers in the state were said to have failed in tests generally meant for primary four pupils. The state commissioner for education, Alhaji Usman Mohammed, made the revelation at an education summit tagged “Education for all is responsibility of all,” held at the Hassan Usman Katsina House.

    “A total of 1,599 teachers selected from across the state were given primary four tests in Mathematics and Basic literacy. Only one of them scored 75 percent, 250 scored between 50 to 75 percent and 1,300 scored below 25 percent,” he said. According to the commissioner, the same examination was conducted for 1,800 primary school pupils and many of them failed woefully. If gold rusts, what would iron do?

    Unfortunately, the story is the same in most parts of the country. Perhaps what is sadder in the Kaduna episode is that this scandalous development is just being discovered now. Teachers in Kwara State also performed woefully in a similar test in 2008; the Ekiti State government has been having a running battle with teachers in the state since it mooted the idea of teachers’ proficiency test.

    If we talk of falling standard in education in the country today, perhaps this can be situated within the context of the wobbly beginning that many pupils had. Primary education is supposed to be the foundation on which subsequent learning would be built. Where the foundation is weak, whatever is erected on it is bound to crumble. Sadly, the government is to be held responsible for this trend. Years back, it came up with a policy lowering admission requirements for people seeking to pursue careers in education, thus giving the impression that teaching is an inferior course.

    Again, most of the satellite campuses in the country have crash programmes for teachers, where they certify them competent to teach after two summer programmes. The implication is that we have half-baked teachers all over the place who have little or nothing to offer. These are unleashed on hapless pupils and students who come out of their academic programmes only a shade better than they were when they gained admission. This is contrary to the practice in some other countries like Finland and South Korea where teaching is held in esteem and their best are sent to the classrooms.

    Nothing here suggests that there are no good teachers in the country. But the point is that many of the people in our classrooms are not qualified and this is a challenge we have to address. The starting point is to ensure that only qualified teachers are recruited.

    Gone were those days when teachers’ rewards were in heaven; teaching is a great profession and until we recognise it as such, we would continue to have problems in our classrooms and this would tell on the country because education is the bedrock of development. Even when we have qualified and competent teachers, they must undergo regular training to build their capacity and they should be encouraged to upgrade and update their academic qualifications periodically. Also, their welfare and remuneration must be enhanced to retain and get the best from them.

     

  • Teachers’ long battle for TSS

    Teachers’ long battle for TSS

    Governors of 18 states defaulting on the 27.5 per cent Teachers Salary Structure (TSS) have been warned of an indefinite strike by primary and secondary school teachers, should they fail to implement the allowance in two weeks.

     

    Five years ago, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) adopted the Teachers Salary Structure (TSS). Under the structure, teachers are to be paid special salary commensurate to their job. Of the 36 states, 18 have started implementing the structure. The others have not, citing reasons which the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) feel are not tenable. The union has given the states two weeks to implement the scheme. The ultimatum followed the expiration of the January 31 deadline earlier given them for the implementation. It warned that at the expiration of the two-week ultimatum, it will urge its members to proceed on strike if the states were yet to act on the matter.

    The states are: Adamawa, Benue, Kogi, Lagos, Ekiti, Abia, Enugu, Cross River, Kebbi, Taraba, Plateau, Delta, Katsina, Nassarawa, Zamfara, Ebonyi, Gombe and Bauchi.

    NUT’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Emmanuel Hwande told The Nation that the deadline was extended to enable the states to reflect the structure in the teachers’ January salary.

    His words: “We gave the two weeks to be sure that the arrangements for payment are perfected. But if after the January salary is paid and teachers in the affected states do not receive the 27.5 percent then the war will continue. There will be strike after the National Executive Council (NEC) must have met and given directive. We will not relent until our demand is met.”

    But why have the states not paid? Each state has its reasons for not paying but the common factor seems to be the minimum wage approved in November 2011. The wage has added a burden to the states’ financial standing.

    Lagos

    In Lagos State, the government has agreed to implement 15.5 per cent now and the rest at a future date agreed upon with the NUT.

    Chairman, NUT Lagos, Comrade Kayode Idowu said the union has extracted a promise from the government to pay the arrears in February.

    “We have an agreement with them that was meant to start by January which they did not pay with the January salary but are implementing with February salary. They will pay 60 per cent of it now. The only problem that may crop up is when they don’t pay the remaining 40 per cent at the time we agree on. We went to Alausa on Tuesday to sign a memorandum on the remaining 40 per cent,” he said.

    Some teachers are not satisfied with promises any longer. A teacher said he has lost faith in the government and NUT.

    He said: “It has always been promises and promises yet no action. We don’t trust government; yet we don’t even know what the union is doing even up to the national body. They seem to have kept us in the dark for so long. There was a time they asked us to get ready for mass strike, but now we don’t even know what is happening again. We have all left our fate to God.”

    Ekiti

    Mr Ola Idris, Secretary, NUT Ekiti State wing, said Governor Kayode Fayemi has accepted to pay the 27.5 per cent TSS.

    According to him, the governor who at a meeting with teachers about three weeks ago, promised to appeal to NUT officials to give him sometime.

    Idris said: “Officials of NUT met with the governor about three weeks ago. There, he pledged to pay the TSS. He only requested that the union should give him more time to be able to work out things appropriately.

    “May I state that we in the NUT don’t doubt either the governor’s readiness or intention to pay. We know he meant his word when he said he needed more time.”

    Enugu

    In Enugu State, the government has agreed to pay in principle. The NUT is still negotiating with the government on TSS’ implementation.

    NUT leaders met with top government officials which including the secretary to the state government, commissioners for education and labour and key permanent secretaries over the issue.

    NUT Chairman, Comrade Chumaife Nze, said the government, in principle, agreed to pay when the money is available.

    “The government is currently studying the financial implications of the unpaid 17 percent. The union and government would meet on February 18 to map out the way forward. The outcome will determine the option the teachers would take – strike or not,” he said.

    Nze who doubles as the NLC chairman, expressed optimism that now that Governor Sullivan Chime is back, negotiations would go through.

    Delta

    Comrade Emmanuel Adhe, Chairman, NUT Delta State wing said the government would implement from this month.

    He said the state would not be among the defaulting states following government’s approval. According to Adhe, the approval granted by government will take effect retroactively.

    His words: “As for Delta State, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has approved the 27.5 percent and it will be implemented in February and it will take effect from January 2013 and one month’s arrears will be paid, so Delta State will not be affected. The government has approved the TSS for teachers in Delta State for both primary and secondary schools. Teachers are satisfied with the government’s efforts. Now we have heard about the approval by February ending when teachers will be paid you will see the jubilation in town.”

    Cross River

    Teachers in Cross River State are unhappy over the non-implementation of the TSS.

    Chairman of NUT, Mr Njom Nyambi, told The Nation that teachers have made entreaties to the government on the implementation of the TSS .

    Nyambi said the union wrote to the governor last week, in its bid to ensure that the issue was resolved amicably.

    The teachers, he said, would go on strike if they did not get positive feedback.

    His words, “Cross River is one of the states that has not been able to pay. I have written to the government and any moment from now, the teachers would proceed on strike unless something positive is done If not we would declare a strike.”

    Commissioner for Education Prof Offiong Offiong said the state was among the states to first implement the TSS in January 2009. But when the minimum wage came, he said, it affected the scale as some teachers complained of being short-changed.

    He said the government was looking into the matter, adding that the issue would be addressed soon.

    He said: “The state was among the first in 2009 January to implement the TSS but when the minimum wage came, it does appear from what the teachers are saying that it has short-changed them in TSS. The governor directed a committee to look at that, and bring up a report to him and I am aware that they are working on that. The office of the accountant-general and others are working on that, but once that has been confirmed and authenticated, I am sure the government would address the matter. It is just the agitation that they have been short-changed. So once we confirm that, the matter would be addressed. I am sure that government, once the give their commitment to pay whatever is outstanding that would be addressed. We need to authenticate that there is actually a short-change. We are looking into it.”

    Kogi

    In Kogi the government gave teachers an option to choose between minimum wage, TSS and another allowance called relativity.

    “But since the introduction of relativity and minimum wage, the state government gave us the option of either to drop the 27.5 percent and enjoy the relativity or do otherwise. But we opted for the relativity since it is juicier. But as I am talking to you now, we are not enjoying the minimum wage nor the TSS,” the source added.

    He said the teachers would continue to struggle until the implemention of the package.

    Plateau

    TSS implementation has not been fully achieved in Plateau. The labour unions are still battling with government for full implementation. Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Jibrin Bantir said primary school teachers were being paid partially.

    He said: “Teachers in Plateau State are in two categories: those in secondary schools are employees of the state government, those in primary schools are employees of the local government. The teachers at the secondary schools are already enjoying the TSS 100 per cent, but those in primaries who are local government staff are yet to enjoy full implementation. At the moment, primary school teachers are only enjoying 65 per cent implementation. The inability of the local government to pay the TSS in full, we were made to understand, is due to the alleged dwindling monthly allocation of the local government from the federation account.”

    Bantir said the union is talking with government to pay up.

    “The case of the local government workers was part of why the NLC declared a strike last year and some agreements were reached between government and labour on ways to implement the TSS in phases.

    “So, the issue is being addressed. However, the January 31 deadline by NUT has been adjusted further, that date has been extended by NUT to allow the affected states to implement it. But I think the major problem with the TSS is that some states have not even implemented it at all. This is where NUT is so concerned. As for Plateau State we don’t have much problem as such,” he said.

    Abia

    Although the Abia NUT claims it has no problems with the government over TSS implementation, payment is yet to start.

    According to NUT chairman Enoch Omeoga, the payment voucher for January was prepared without the TSS, adding: “as a principal of a school in the state, when I saw it I raised an alarm which made the Chief of Staff to the governor, Cosmos Ndukwe, to raise a memo reminding the ministry of the agreement we reached.”

    He said ASUBEB and the Ministry of Education have been directed to prepare a supplementary voucher for and February, “which have been prepared, so we have to wait till the salaries are paid to know if the TSS will be there or not”.

    Omeoga regretted that salaries are paid in arrears, saying: “Abia teachers and the NUT are waiting for the salaries to be paid for the month of January and if the TSS is not included in the salary we will complain to the governor”.

    He explained that during negotiation, the governor was not hostile, but was only complaining that there are no funds. The governor, he said, urged the workers not to compare the state with the rich ones.

    Omeoga said he was sure that the governor would pay the TSS, adding if he fails, the teachers will meet to know the next line of action.

    “For now, there is no problem between us and the governor,” he said.

  • Kebbi promotes 4,560 teachers

    The Kebbi Universal Basic Education Board has promoted 4,560 primary school teachers.

    The Secretary of the board, Alhaji Sodangi Bello, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi that the promotions were meant for deserving teachers to boost their performance.

    He said the promotion was delayed because the board was waiting for the final report of the recent verification of school teachers.

    Bello said majority of the teachers had started enjoying the payment following their promotions.

    He said the board would enhance teachers’ welfare to make the teaching more attractive.

    Bello said the board had, in the last two years, sponsored 1,200 teachers for further training to enable them to acquire the National Certificate of Education (NCE) and degree in higher institutions.

    He said the board and stakeholders in education, also organised capacity building training aimed at enhancing performance and productivity of teachers and students. He warned teachers against absenteeism, lateness, truancy and unlawful practices.

    He said: “We (Board) will not spare erring teachers as effective methods of supervision and inspection have been put in place to check such offences.”

    He commended the state and local governments for prompt release of counterpart funding for salaries and other entitlements of teachers.