Government News Source|14 July 2019
Following the personnel audit exercise conducted by the Board to rid the basic education sector of ghost workers and the demotion of teachers due to deficiencies in their results, the Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Stephen Odey has said demoted teachers will only be reinstated after certificates are subjected to another round of verification NEGROIDHAVEN can say authoritatively.
Odey made this known while interfacing with all head teachers in the Northern Senatorial Zone at Government Secondary School, Igoli, Ogoja Local Government Area. He said there was need for a re-verification in order to further ascertain the authenticity of the certificate.
According to him “some teachers who were demoted have been writing to me that they should be reinstated having cleared their deficiencies. Well, the process is ongoing and If you write to us that you have been able to make up your papers or deficiencies, it is still my responsibility to verify the authenticity of what you have presented to me, because nothing stops you from forging another certificate the same way you forged before you were discovered.”
“When it comes to doing my work, I do not compromise, and those who do not want to do the right thing will be thinking this man is strict or wicked. I have not come to SUBEB to frustrate anybody but my reappointment to SUBEB showed that I did not derail from the responsibility I was given.”
Speaking on the need for training of teachers, Odey said that, Governor Ben Ayade has introduced the West African Teachers Continuous Training Institute to cater for the training and re-training of teachers in the State and beyond.
In his words “This training institute will address one of the greatest challenges we have. We do not train our staff as regularly as we should; other private organisations or professional organisations send their staff on trainings regularly, but here after College of Education, unless SUBEB or UBEC organises workshop, there is no other training. So in the nearest future teachers will undertake training in batches for a period of 3 weeks to 1 month and after that, they will be promoted. The National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) have indicated their interest to partner with the State. So the intention is to link teachers promotion to trainings acquired at the institute.”
The training institute which is currently undergoing construction in Biase LGA, will have a demonstration school, Amphi theatre, hostels, lecture halls amongst others.
In the opening remarks, the Director of Administration SUBEB, Emmanuel Ojong said the meeting with stake holders in the basic education sector was of utmost importance, which is why despite lean resources the Executive Chairman SUBEB showed commitment by scheduling and coming out for the meeting.
“Sir, meeting with your stakeholders is suppose to be a regular exercise and in spite of the constrain we face financially and logistically you still decided to meet with the head teachers who are your lieutenants in the field. We are gathered here at your instance to continue the interactive session and to tell you that you are back to continue from where you stopped.”
Ojong commended the Executive Chairman for a good first term, he pledge the support of management and staff in achieving set goals and objectives in this new dispensation.
State Chairman, Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Akate Terence stated that since Odey’s assumption into office the educational system has improved due to his passion for basic education.
He further thanked the Chairman for his magnanimity in deciding to reinstate demoted teachers who have made up their deficiencies by acquiring genuine certificates.
Terence stated that the building of the West African Teachers Continuous Training Institute will take basic education in Cross River State to even greater heights. He thanked Governor Ben Ayade for the laudable initiative and called on all teachers to make good use of the opportunity when the time comes.
Meeting with Head teachers of Southern senatorial zone on Tuesday, 23rd July, 2019 will bring the exercise to a close.