Disturbed by the imbalance in primary school teachers distribution between urban and rural communities, chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr Warri Ovoke on Friday read the riot act, warning teachers that they would be fired if they reject postings.
He issued the warning when members of the Concerned Indigenes of Ikpide--Irri 4--Development (CIID) visited him in his office at Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area.
Noting that it is no longer business as usual, the council boss said anyone who refuses to accept posting, especially to rural, riverine communities, would be shown the way out.
He said any teacher posted to Ikpide-lrri community or anywhere in the local government area for that matter and refuses to go and resume duty there will be summarily dismissed.
“If you refuse to report and stay there to work, just park your loads and leave the job, it is as simple as that,” he vowed.
The council boss stated that health care delivery, agriculture, education and security, among other sectors, constitutes the cardinal thrust of his administration and each of these would be taken very seriously.
He said, “As a child while growing up, there used to be what we called dispensary in the villages where people were taken to for treatment before going to the hospitals in the city.
“As a government, we shall look into this and see how we can come to the aid of my beloved people of Ikpide-irri community.
The council chairman's hard stance has become imperative because rejection of posting by teachers is creating an imbalance in the system. Teachers, like health workers and other professionals prefer to work in urban centres where they have all the basic amenities. This leaves the rural schools and health facilities poorly staffed. For instance, one would find just five or six teachers in a village primary school while an urban primary school will have as many as 70 teachers!
In an interview with our reporter, an indigene of Oleh town, Deli Joseph, who is a retired secondary school teacher said, "Teachers refuse posting to rural areas, particularly riverine communities, because of the lack of social amenities in such rural communities. While one can appreciate, and sympathise with such affected teachers, it is important for the teachers to think about the pupils in rural schools".
If everybody refuses to accept rural posting, who will teach the children in the villages, Mr Joseph asked rhetorically.
Besides rejecting posting to rural areas, some teachers actually accept the postings alright but they will refuse to go to work. In connivance with the head teachers, they stay at home and receive salaries for doing nothing.
There are cases of teachers who manage to put up appearance at school maybe once a week and the other days of the month they are at home. At the end of the month they "sort" their head teachers and this goes on for years with the pupils suffering the brunt.
Continuing, Deli Joseph said "Good as the threat by the council chairman is, the relevant authorities must make effort to make the rural schools a bit more conducive to stay. For instance, government could build staff quarters for members of staff, who are not indigenes, to stay. In addition to staff quarters, government should make effort to provide boreholes and rural electrification".
It will be recalled that immediately on assumption of office, Warri Friday, who seem like a no-nonsense man, warned all council staff to avoid absenteeism, truancy and lateness to work, which according to him, are against civil service regulations.
https://nigerdeltaconnect.com/bomadi-lg-boss-swears-in-supervisors
