By Ayodele Oni
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has apologized to primary schools teachers in the state for being sidelined in some programmes and activities of the administration.
Oyebanji, after a meeting in Ado Ekiti at the weekend with local governments education secretaries, found out that primary school teachers, especially those at the rural areas had been sidelined from some benefits from government.
The governor said his administration would address the issue of non-disbursement of car and housing loans to primary school teachers in the state, with a view to getting them to start enjoying certain benefits that their counterparts in secondary schools have been enjoying in the state.
According to a statement on Sunday by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, Governor Oyebanji met with the Education Secretaries to get first hand information on some complaints by the teachers, which were hitherto unknown to him.
The Governor expressed concern over some of the revelations at the meeting, and promised that government would also look into the issue of career progression of degree holders in primary schools with a view to allowing them reach Grade Level 16 or 17 as the case may be.
The Governor also promised to address other issues affecting the teachers including redistribution of teachers to ensure that rural areas get their fair share of teachers as well as provision of incentives to those serving in rural areas.
He also said Government would consider the implementation of the newly recommended retirement age of 65 and years or 40 years of service for teachers.
Oyebanji warned against inviting teachers for seminars with inadequate or no provision for their welfare, adding that teachers should henceforth be well treated and respected as moulders of future leaders.
“I am absolutely grateful for the feedback and it means that our work is cut out for us. I have identified those key areas that we need to act on.
“Levels enhancement to Grade Level 16, car and housing loans for primary school teachers, implementation of the new retirement age and other issues that would make them more effective and fulfilled on the job. Government will act on these very soon.”
On complaints by teachers over paltry training allowances paid to them, the Governor said: “This is what I am going to advise, if they reduce the training grant, its better you have a smaller number or sit down with the teachers before the commencement of any seminar and tell them what is available.
“There must be conversation, if they have this information, maybe they will show understanding, then they can align their movement and other things to make the seminar convenient for them.
“But, I am opposed to the idea of inviting teachers to seminars and making inadequate or no provision for their welfare. That should not happen again.”
Governor Oyebanji promised that his administration would continue to provide avenue for everyone to participate in his government so as to effectively chart the way forward in all sectors of his developmental agenda.
The Governor commended teachers in the state for their commitment to duty and determination to ensure that the administration succeed in its education and human capital development efforts.
