Benue State Government is set to sanction erring teachers and students who indulge in truancy, lateness to work, loitering and other unethical practices capable of causing a decline in the standard of education.
Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr. Margaret Adamu, gave the directive on Wednesday during an unscheduled inspection tour of some schools in the state. She stated that the aim of the visit was to monitor schools’ resumption after the prolonged holiday and reiterated the government’s stance on taking disciplinary action against those who go contrary to the Code of Conduct for teachers.
Dr. Adamu expressed dismay over absenteeism and lateness on the part of students and teachers and charged school management to ensure that staff sign the attendance register to check in and out. She reminded them that the time to report to work is before 7:30am, stating that the situation where teachers and students report at will would no longer be tolerated.
While on the surprise visit, the Commissioner locked out some teachers and students who came late and later pardoned them, but stressed that the surprise visits would be continuous. She called for a change of attitude for the system to be sanitized.
She noted that Governor Hyacinth Alia has placed premium on the welfare of teachers, with visible achievements recorded in the education sector and staff salaries paid as and when due, pointing out that to whom much is given, much is expected. She charged management to teach students the Benue Anthem and properly monitor staff and students’ compliance with school rules.
Dr. Adamu appreciated teachers for their roles in ensuring they impart knowledge and discipline positively, stating that they serve as counsellors and that students have more confidence in teachers than in some parents as role models. She advised teachers to be positive with their choice of words, as negative words affect learners.
She also disclosed that the Ministry of Education is putting up a reward package for teachers and students who excel and appealed to them to put in their best in service to the state.
The Commissioner was accompanied on the inspection by the Director of Secondary Education, Mr. Emmanuel Oche, the Area Education Officer for Makurdi Local Government, Mr. John Juhul, and other staff of the Ministry. They visited Padopas Harmony Secondary School, Government Model School and Christ Apostolic Church School, all in Makurdi.
The principals of the schools thanked the Commissioner and appreciated her efforts in bringing sanity to the system, pledging to step up, improve learning and effectively implement government policies in support of efforts to reposition the education sector in the state.
