Edo teachers decry state of public schools, lament Obaseki's failed promises

The 2023 World Teachers Day in Benin City

By Editor

Oct 6, 2023

Every October 5 each year is set aside by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as World Teachers' Day for the global community to celebrate, recognize and to rewards teachers in the position of prime importance they occupy in societal growth and development.

But for the chairman of the State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Bernard Gbenga Ajobiewe, if truly education is the most potential tool ever devised by man for his own advancement, the teachers that constitute the fabric upon which the success of the entire educational edifice hangs deserves special recognition and appreciation.

The event also afforded the teachers the opportunity to reflect on how they have fared in the year under review, challenges and ways forward.

Dailymonitorngr reports that for the teachers in Edo State, the 2023 World Teachers' Day was more of lamentations than celebrations.

The second ranking of agent of socialization of a child, lamented that the education sector in the state is nothing to write home about 

Leading the teachers to lament the condition of services and the state of education, was the state chairman of NUT, Comrade Bernard Gbenga Ajobiewe, who in his address, decried the shortage of teachers in public schools and several failed promises made to them by the governor Godwin Obaseki-led government.

The theme for the 2023 World Teachers Day was, "The Teachers We need for the Education we want: The Global Imperative to Reverse Teachers Shortage.

According to him, our schools are empty, the pupils are not learning, learning is no longer effective. A situation whereby two or three teachers are teaching in the entire school, how do you expect effective teachings and learning to take place?

Ajobiewe, who lamented the shortage of teachers in public schools, appealed to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to ensure that all cases of omission of names of teachers and EDO STAR Fellow in payroll and their arrears are paid immediately.

"In view of the shortage of teachers in our various schools, we wish to appeal to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Edo State to give a permanent employment to EDO STAR teachers in the state

"In view of the acute shortage of teachers consequent upon retirement, death, resignation (Japa) or other causes in our primary and secondary schools across the state, we wish to passionately appeal to the state government to recruit quality teachers to fill such vacancies.

"Your, Excellency sir, the situation is worse in the rural areas where we have schools with as few as one to two teachers handling the entire classes.

"Teachers in such schools may be compelled to engage in multi-grade teaching "primary schools setting" or teaching outside their subject areas "secondary school".

"However, we wish to strongly advise that whenever recruitment of teachers is to be carried out emphasis should be on only competent, qualified and professional teachers", he said.

Ajobiewe, whose address was intermittently greeted with thunderous ovations, also wanted the immediate implementation of omitted teachers in 2021 promotion and prompt release of 2022 primary school teachers' promotion.

The teachers, who also decried the appointment of teachers that are junior in rank to Head Schools while their seniors remain as classroom teachers, noted that such policy engenders rancor and acrimony within the school system which would be counterproductive, and unethical to educational system.

While requesting that primary school, Head teachers appointment should be based on seniority, he urged that those to be appointed as School Heads should be from the pool of competent senior teachers for optimal performance.

The State NUT chairman, also lamented the failure of the Edo state government to give approval for the implementation of the harmonised retirement age for teachers seven months after pronouncement by governor Obaseki.

Ajobiewe who said the governor made the verbal pronouncement on March 2023 during the Stapaper.use of Assembly campaign at Government House, noted that seven months after the teachers are still waiting for the approval paper.

"Many of our experience teachers who would have mentored the young ones are retiring. We are appealing to you to release the approval paper", he stated.

The NUT also agitated for the payment of 2013 to 2015 promotion arrears to teachers in Orhionmwon and Oredo local government areas, which they said had been lingering for a long time.

The NUT boss, however, appealed to SUBEB to ensure that the 2023 to 2015 promotion arrears are paid to teachers in the two local governments since their counterparts in the remaining local governments had been paid theirs long time ago.

Comrade Bernard Gbenga Ajobiewe, the  Edo State NUT chairman delivering his address at the 2023 World Teachers Day celebration in Benin on Thursday

He, however, lamented the nonfulfillment of the governor's promised of an operational bus to the NUT.

He said the union had written several letters of reminder for the release of the bus and at the moment they are yet to it.

The NUT chairman, opined that the union need the bus to ease its trustees monitoring teachers' at work place as well as carrying out their duties effectively and to be able to stand out among their contemporary in other states of the federation.

Responding to the teachers' demands, governor Obaseki promised to donate the bus to the union before this year's Alaghodaro summit.

He also promised to pay an extra half-month bonus in December to the teachers, in addition to the 13th-month salary to be paid to all workers in the State.

He said the promised of the payment of half-month bonus was part of his gifts to celebrate the teachers at World Teachers' Day.

On the harmonised retirement age for teachers, the governor a bill is alreadt before the State House of Assembly and the policy would be implemented as soon as the state lawmakers passed the bill.