FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Edo State government has denied the recent claims made by a civil society group alleging that teachers are being compelled to carry out menial tasks such as cutting grass and cleaning school premises under directives from the ministry.
A statement released by the Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, said the ministry disapproves what he described as an “unwholesome practice,” especially as it undermines ongoing efforts to restore the dignity of teachers in Edo State.
According to Iyamu, preliminary reports suggest that the actions may have stemmed from voluntary acts of Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, by a few teachers, and the ministry has moved swiftly by ordering a thorough investigation into the matter to establish the facts and ensure accountability.
“We assure our esteemed teachers that we will get to the root of the matter and correct any abnormality in whatever form,” the commissioner stated, while emphasizing the state’s unwavering commitment to protect the rights and privileges of its educators.
Iyamu also called on teachers across the state to remain dedicated to academic excellence, stressing that their primary duty lies in transferring knowledge and not engaging in activities that fall outside the scope of education.
“Teachers priority is the transfer of learning, so we want to discourage in very strong terms teachers forcibly engaging in or being used to engage in tasks that do not directly correlate with strengthening the knowledge gap and learning outcomes,” the statement read.
The ministry also urged members of the public to be wary of individuals or groups attempting to tarnish its image, particularly in the light of the recent reforms designed to eliminate exploitative practices and protect the educational interest of children from underprivileged backgrounds.
Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to improve the education sector, the ministry pointed to several recent initiatives under the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo, including the increase in minimum wage for teachers, conversion of casual teachers to permanent staff after three years, construction of staff quarters in selected schools and ongoing training and retraining programmes for educators.
He stated that the administration is fully committed to ensuring that every Edo child gets the best in education and every teacher becomes proud of being an Edo teacher.
