By Onome Oghenetega
The Delta State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed deep concerns over the acute shortage of teachers in public schools in the state.
It said education in Delta is under threat of an imminent collapse if the development is not immediately addressed by the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration.
Delta NUT chairman, Comrade Titus Okotie, stated this on Monday during the opening of the 7th Quadrennial (8th) State Delegates Conference of the NUT at the College of Education, Edjeba, Warri.
The conference had as its theme; ‘Adequate Personnel: An imperative for the sustainability of our educational system’ with delegates drawn from the 25 Local Government Areas of the state.
Okotie, who also lamented the continued delay in the implementation of N30,000 to primary school teachers in the state, said the development could fuel industrial disharmony between the body and the state government.
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He called on Governor Okowa to urgently tackle the issue of inadequate manpower in the state school system “to save the school system from imminent collapse”.
According to him, “the continued delay in the payment of the N30,000 new national minimum wage to primary school teachers is worrisome to us.”
Speaking on the theme of the conference, NUT Chairman said, “Theme has been carefully selected to reflect the true state of our education system which is presently experiencing acute shortage of teachers.
“You will all agree with me that no education system can grow above the level of its teachers, therefore, adequate teaching force is required for the advancement of our educational system”.
While positing that “the Union has almost exhausted all legitimate avenues of dialogue” to resolve the non-implementation of the new minimum wage, called on the governor to step in and resolve the issue in the interest of industrial harmony.
“May I use this medium to call on the State government to urgently set necessary machineries in motion towards resolving this issue in the interest of industrial harmony and mutual relationship which exists between the NUT and the Senator Dr. Okowa-led administration”, he said.
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The NUT Chairman listed other challenges confronting teachers in Delta State public schools notably non-release of the 2021 promotion of eligible teachers in both primary and secondary schools, till date.
He therefore enjoined the SUBEB and PPEB to “expedite actions in this regard, considering the 2014 Memorandum of Understanding that promotion shall be effected as at when due to avoid accumulation of arrears”.
The Union further lamented the continued stagnation of university graduate teachers in the primary school system on SGL 14, stressing that Delta NUT will soon communicate to the State Government on the next line of action on the issue.
