By;. DAHIRU SULEIMAN DUTSE.
The Jigawa State wing of Nigeria Union of Teachers, (NUT) has decried persistent dearth of teachers in the state’s primary and post primary schools as a result of retirement of over seven thousand in the last 11 years without replacement.
Re-elected Chairman of NUT in Jigawa, Comrade Abdulkadir Yunusa stated this in his speech on the occasion of Teacher’s Day at the union’s secretariat in Dutse on Tuesday.
“Recruitment of 1,953 teachers in both basic and post basic schools in Jigawa State by the state government is grossly inadequate to cater for our over 9,000 primary and post primary schools,” Comrade Yunusa said.
“For example, statistics have revealed that many of our schools are without teachers or without qualify teachers. Why won’t we be looked backward educationally?” He queried.
“Despite the state government’s commitment in supporting the educational sector, we will like to draw the attention of the government on the issue of shortage of manpower in our schools.
“As our teachers keep retiring unabated, there is urgent need for replacement in refiling the vacuum for the advancement of education,” he advised.
According to Comrade Yunusa, “we are not opposing state government’s initiatives in floating the J Power Teacher’s Initiative in recruiting more teachers, but that must be backed with qualify and skilled teachers as such measures will pave room for competition in the teaching profession,” he advised.
He called on teachers to uphold the spirit of training and re- training in updating their certification in comformity with the stipulated guidelines on Teachers Registration Council (TRC) for proper identification and recognition.
Also, he urged them to inculcate discipline and good moral conduct on their pupils at all levels in order to confront the national challenge of insecurity, which he said, is mainly caused by poor educational standards and discipline.
Earlier, he commended Governor Badaru’s initiatives in promoting 167 teachers on Grade Level 15 to the rank of Directors, establishment of five science day secondary schools and 96 senior day secondary schools in Jigawa State, renovation of almost all the school’s at basic and post basic education levels, prompt payment of civil servants salary on or before the 25th of each month and involvement of NUT in every aspect that has to do with education and educational matters and decisions across the state.
