Imo: Why Education Secretaries Idle; Deployed To Classroom, Dares Teachers |The Source

By Okey Alozie

Education Secretaries will go back to schools to become class room teachers in Imo state.

The Commissioner for Education, Prof. B.T.O Ikeagwuoha, made this known when he visited Ozisa F.M for a radio show Wednesday morning.

He said reasons for deploying the Education Secretaries in L.G.As is because of lack of teachers, coupled with the fact that many of them are idle in their various offices.

The Commissioner said instead of adding to the system by doing the assignment given to them, they resolved to abandon their offices to juncate.

He said some even go abroad on their own to transact private business without informing the authority.

He, therefore, insisted that their deployment will now make them add value to the system that they belong to.

The Commissioner further disclosed that new teachers will be recruited very soon to teach in primary and secondary schools of the state.

Information revealed that the State Government hired teachers from private and missionary schools.  Those that were hired to teach in public schools receive stipends from Government House.

The number of teachers borrowed from private and missionary schools, as we gathered, is up to 1000.

On the issue of Imo teachers refusing to return to schools on Monday when school will reopen,  Ikeagwuoha told Imolites that genuine teachers have been paid.

He said N.U.T members are still staff under Imo Government, therefore, cannot hold the Government to ransom.

He appealed to all teachers to return to schools on Monday to avoid problems.

“Being a Union Leader in Education does not make N.U.T members non staff. N.U.T members are not above the law” Ikeagwuoha said.

He revealed that the leaders of N.U.T in Imo have refused to come to him for discussion on salary.

He pointed out that those who are going round complaining that Imo Government has refused to pay them, are the ones who falsified their age and certificates just to remain in Service illegally.  He then declared that those who falsified their ages must go for retirement to allow the younger ones to come

“We cannot pay teachers who are not in our payroll” Ikeagwuoha said.