Teachers who don't stay in their stations risk losing their jobs - SUBEB

Rt. Hon. Anietie Etuk, flanked by members of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)

 …Disciplinary Team to ensure compliance upon School resumption

Priscilla Akpanettot

The Akwa Ibom State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has warned Primary School teachers in the State to stay and live in their stations or risk losing their jobs.

The Chairman and members of the board gave the warning on Monday, September 4, 2023, during an interaction with Head Teachers of Primary Schools in Eket Senatorial District.

Chairman of the Board, Rt. Hon. Anietie Etuk (Ph.D) explained that the Board settled for this disciplinary measure following observations that many of the teachers resume for work very late, due to the distance from their places of residence to the School they teach.

Members of the Head Table

This he said, was the reason many Pupils loiter and play around their School’s premises for the most part of the productive hours of the day; and that Schools without the presence of a resident teacher are prone to being vandalized or used for the practice of vices.    

“One of the regular challenge we have is that Government will provide infrastructure and the Community will vandalize them or struggle for the land. Although we are making provision for security in our schools, your presence in that Community will curtail some of these things”. 

“This is not to say that Communities should not take responsibility for their Schools. All Communities which have Schools should begin to take charge and protect whatever is sent to their Schools; forward cases of vandalism to the Board”, he charged. 

A section of the Head Teachers

Frowning at the activities of some Head Teachers, the Board Chairman exposed that they were in the habit of permitting absenteeism and lateness to work; giving excuses for other teachers, engaging in mindless chats during school hours while making the Pupils labour in their farms; leaving School before the close of work and so on.

“Some of you are the problems in the system. You do not report erring teachers but cover them up and allow these kids to suffer neglect and abandonment. Yet, you get your full pay and allowances when due”. 

“All of these will be over as the new academic session resumes because we have set-up a disciplinary team involving the Local Government Commission, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and other relevant stakeholders to reinforce monitoring and sanction.

Another section of the Head Teachers

If a team comes to your School and meets your absence or you don’t report your teachers, you will be queried and subsequently dismissed from work”.

“We came to tell you that distant teaching will no longer be tolerated, stay in your station. Pay a house and stay in that community. Stay within the time-frame of School hours. Live to your responsibilities as teachers; stop laboring the children, they are not farmers.  Complement Government’s efforts to revamp the system”, he appealed with passion.

Meanwhile, Dr. Etuk applauded some of the Head teachers who were doing their best to uphold the standard of education in the State. He described them as relevant stakeholders in state-building and related Governor Umo Eno’s commendation to them.

“The Governor recognizes teachers as serious stakeholders and drivers of his plans so, one can joke with you”, he said.

Recalling that the Governor had declared a State-of-emergency on basic education as soon as he came on board, the Chairman explained that this meant a total overhaul of the Primary School system where infrastructure and a suitable learning atmosphere will be provided for Pupils, while teachers will be provided with a comfortable quarters.

At the meeting, held at Government Primary School, Usung Inyang in Eket Local Government Area, a Head Teacher in the district (name withheld) was called out for being the worst in the area and recommended for dismissal. 

The meeting had in attendance, members of the Board who took turns to corroborate the Chairman’s remarks and spelt-out stiff sanctions for defaulters; Education Secretaries in each of the Local Government comprising Eket Senatorial District as well as representative of AUPCTRE in the area.  

The meeting which was the last lap of interaction with teachers in the State before the resumption of the2023/2024 academic session was previously held in Uyo and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial Districts.