Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Chairman, Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Comrade Nwali Ede, has petitioned the State Governor, Rt. Hon Francis Nwifuru, over alleged discrimination, unfavorable treatment and neglect by the State Government against primary school teachers in the State.
In the petition signed by him, dated 13th March 2024 and addressed to the State Governor, Comrade Ede enumarated some of the discrimination against primary school teachers to include disparity in salary payment, inconsistency in salary payment and retirement benefit of primary school teachers among others.
Comrade Ede accused the State Government of using the primary school system in the state as a money making tool adding that the free education policy of the State Government has been defeated as parents and pupils starve to meet up with the financial demands imposed by the State Government on them.
“Our government has turned our primary schools into a money-making tool during examinations. It’s an ugly sight to see our brilliant children of the poor crying and starving themselves to pay for the so-called Unified Examinations of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd terms.
“Yet we were told that we have free and compulsory education in Ebonyi State. The ugly effect is on the teachers who are directly involved in the collection of the said money.
“We are still battling with the above; we are now greeted with an increase in Common Entrance Examinations and First School Leaving Certificate fees from ₦1,200 to ₦2,500.
He lamented that in most rural primary schools in the State, there are only 2 teachers handling primary 1 pupils through to primary 6 adding that without enough teachers, providing a quality education for the pupils will remain an impossible task.
“There is strong disparity in the Salary Payment of primary school teacher with other civil servants in the State. Former Governor of the State, Chief David Umahi, increased workers’ salary by 5%. Till date, no primary school teacher is a beneficiary. Our salary is below the minimum wage.
“Other workers including Secondary school teachers receive their salaries within the same month but the Primary school teachers will be paid a month later.
“This creates hardship for the teachers and their families. It affects their livelihoods and their financial well-being.
“The Present administration promised Ebonyi workers ₦100,000 which was paid within two days of the pronouncement. After protracted consideration bordering on whether to be included or not, in the end primary school teachers were only paid ₦50,000.
“There is a severe shortage of teachers in our public primary schools, especially those in rural communities. Most worryingly, many schools have less than two teachers handling pupils from Primary 1 through to primary 6.
“Yet these same pupils are still expected to compete favourably in external examinations against other states.
“Before the end of the previous government of Sen. David Umahi, He paid exit allowance of ₦15,000 to all the workers in the state, primary school teachers did not benefit from it.
“While the entire workers in the state including the secondary school teachers are enjoying their gratuity, the primary school teachers only hear it on the radio and/or read it on the pages of the newspapers. So many of the retirees are dead because they lack money to maintain their health.
“The promotion process for primary school teachers is flawed and discourages efficiency. We pay between ₦500 and ₦1,000 to the Local Government Areas and again to UBEB for the same verification exercise during promotion.
“We are also compelled to pay additional fees just to collect our Gen 35 certificates, which our counterparts in secondary schools receive freely.
He noted that the neglect of primary school teachers has chains of consequences for both teachers and pupils and the state in general adding that many primary school teachers now feel undervalued.
“Quality of education declines as teachers lack means for professional growth. And our most vulnerable children increasingly face financial barriers to their basic right of education.
The teachers called on the State Governor to take immediate action and rectify the discriminatory practices against primary school teachers.
