As the World Teachers’ Day was marked globally on October 5, the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Etim Ukpong has taken a swipe at governments’ lackadaisical attitude towards public education in the Nigeria.
Ukpong who spoke this in an interview with Straightnews publisher Monday at NUT House, 2 IBB Avenue, Uyo, said “There is this attitude of government towards the teachers, which is sometime negative. Governments have lackadaisical attitude towards public education in the country. Meanwhile, government is the proprietor of public schools.
The Chairman cited “Just to buttress the lackadaisical attitude. This is the time, you would hear that the First Lady in the state has been attending public schools’ functions, and has been sending words of encouragement to the schools and their teachers. Before now, they used to be attending functions in private not public schools.
“Basically, the state government is not giving the right kind of attitude to public education. The inspections of schools are now becoming much. Some political appointees are involved. What they should do is to correct and recommend not going on inspections. The government should know who to send on inspection, instead of sending non-teachers who are not experienced to go on inspection of schools manned by professional teachers.”
Ukpong, who is who is a one-time Chairperson of Nigeria Labour Congress, Akwa Ibom State Council, however, blamed government, parents and teachers for the falling standard of education in the state.
According to him, the government has not lived up to its responsibility in providing the teachers with proper teaching materials, conducive working environment, motivation through payment of some legitimate claims accrued to teachers.
He also blamed parents for abdicating their responsibility by not going through the notes of lesson of their wards as well as carpeted teachers for not putting in much energy and time to imparting sound knowledge to their pupils or students.
Commenting on challenges facing teachers in the state, the labour leader listed non-payment of leave grant, backlogs of leave grant, non-payment of promotion arrears, serious debt of teachers, government irregular in payment of subventions of more than six terms, dearth of teaching and learning materials, and dilapidated classroom blocks, among others.
In proffering solutions to encourage teachers in the system, he stressed the need to raise teachers’ hopes, Inspectorate Division of Ministry of Education not politicians to embark on regular inspections, change of the attitude to work by the teachers, provision of the materials by government to teachers.
Ukpong, therefore, advised teachers “Please give your time, give your passion to the job because it enriches people. People who give their time and passion prosper. The children of teachers hardly fail classes not because their parents are teaching them but because of their sacrifice in imparting knowledge to others. In fact, their children would always continue to move and they would be moving like that till they reach the apex of their profession. That’s the blessing that follows passionate and faithful teachers.
“And let teachers not extort from their pupils and let people not be lying unnecessarily about teachers extorting which is another issue with the government. At times, some government officials believe easily whatever the content of any petition they see from villagers about school heads. This is very wrong.
“You should not just jump to conclusion on any matter concerning the teacher without hearing from the affected. Whenever the officials send any investigative team, they should not draw conclusion unnecessarily. Let government representatives know the strategies they use when it comes to schools. Let all of us collectively see how we can improve the educational system,” he opined.
