Kwara teachers commend government’s intervention in education
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq
Heads of secondary schools in Kwara State, yesterday, said Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s achievements in improving welfare of teachers are unmatched in the recent history of the state.
The teachers also commended the introduction of KwaraLEARN, which, they say, has been impactful, adding that the administration’s interventions have also been extended to other parts of the state like never before.
The school heads made the commendations in Ilorin, the state capital, at an open engagement the governor held to feel their pulse on government’s focus on basic education and their welfare across board.
At least 300 school principals attended the meeting along with other stakeholders from across the education sector. The teachers, who acknowledged the improvements in their wages and teaching environment, also called on the governor to consider restoring boarding facilities, which died off few years ago, end the pay disparity between teachers in basic classes and their senior secondary school counterparts, which he inherited. They also urged the governor to commit more funds to laboratories in the schools, as well as do more to offset salary arrears he inherited in 2019.
Principal of Ilorin Grammar School, Hajia Abdullahi Iyabo, said her school is one of the schools, which benefited from the comprehensive renovation of schools under AbdulRazaq’s administration.
“Our school benefitted from the govornor’s intervention. It underwent a total renovation. On behalf of the management of Ilorin Grammar School, we want to say thank you. I also want to express our gratitude to you for the sense of humility and commitment to the welfare of teachers and students. I want to also sincerely appreciate your efforts at ensuring teachers are promoted, and we want you to keep this up,” she said.
Principal of Community Junior Secondary School, Ipetu-Igbomina in Irepodun Local Council, Mr. Babatunde Adegboyega, said the administration has given a befitting facelift to schools, while doing its best to promote welfare.
Principal of Queen Elizabeth Senior Secondary School Ilorin, Sidikat Lawal, commended AbdulRazaq for his prompt interventions on issues affecting the school.
Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Shehu Adaramaja, described the interactive session as historic.
Adaramaja blamed the longstanding disparity in wages between SUBEB and the Teaching Service commission (TESCOM) teachers on four factors, out of which two have now been resolved.
He listed the factors to be over-deduction of NationaL Union of Teachers (NUT) and National Housing Scheme (NHS) dues, both of which have now been addressed and reflected in the teachers’ salaries, as well as stoppage of step upgrades for SUBEB teachers since 2016, and non-payment of allowances due to teachers with Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
He said these challenges would also be resolved, but called for patience and understanding of the teachers.
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