Awka—Anambra State Government says teachers without basic teaching qualification will not be appointed principals of secondary schools just as teachers in the State have called on the Government to pay their arrears of three years primary school teachers promotions allowance. The teachers also asked the government to carry out harmonization of primary school teachers and to put in place the boards of SPEB and Post Primary School Service Commission (PPSSC). Anambra State teachers also lamented that three months after attending promotion interviews, secondary school teachers promotion is yet to be released.
Meanwhile, the National President of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Mallam Abdulwahed Omar has condemned the recent Labour Bill passed by the Senate and warned that “to outlaw strikes in the education sector is the worst and most dangerous thing that can happen to education practice in any country”. Anambra State Education Commissioner, Prof Leonard Moghalu said Tuesday while addressing teachers on the occasion of the World Teachers Day promotion of non-core teachers a principals of schools. To this end, he disclosed that 27 long serving teachers were not made principals because they have no basic teaching qualifications.
Moghalu expressed joy for the introduction of the Teachers Registration Council (TRC), saying that itwould ensure that “charlatans do not train our children”.The State Chairman of Nut, Comrade Anthony Ugozor in his address urged the state government to address all the legitimate entitlements of teachers to for stall any strike action.”I here and now urge the government to commence action on settlement rears of 2001, 2002, and 2003 primary school teachers promotions, harmonization of primary school teachers, putting in place the boards to take charge of both SPEB and PPSSC in the State.
”It is necessary to add that promotion of secondary school teachers is yet to be release despite the fact,that interview for such promotions took place some three months ago. It is common knowledge that a happy teacher will definitely put in her best than the aggrieved one,” Ugozor said. He also calld on the government to introduce rural allowances to encourage teachers to accept postings to rural areas, saying that Cross River State has introduced N5000 per month rural allowance for teachers in the rural areas.
Mallam Umar, the Nut National President condemned the Labour Bill passed by the Senate which outlawed strikes, saying the bill was a big threat to quality education.” The bill in a nutshell, seeks to fractionalize labour, place restrictions on check- off dues as well as make strikes illegal. The Nigeria Union of Teachers is concerned that this bill is inimical to the interest of workers since it is an infringement on their freedom and inalienable rights.” To make education an essential service is even more worrisome especially for teachers because it is not the outlawing of strikes unnecessary that is much more important.” To outlaw strikes in the education sector is the worst and most dangerous thing that can happen to education practice in any country,” Umar said.
