The State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, in Delta State, has warned Teachers not to resist transfers as such act could lead to dismissal from service.
Executive Chairman of the Board, Hon (Chief) Samuel Mariere gave the warning while addressing education stakeholders in Udu and Ughelli South local government areas, in continuation of visits to 25 local government areas in the state.
Hon Mariere stated that Teachers resisting postings or transfers was retrogressive, stressing that the board would not allow any individual or group to truncate government’s efforts to reposition public primary education system in the state.
Mariere, a Lawyer and two term former member of the Delta State Legislature, and later Commissioner for Water Resources, told Head Teachers, Local Education Secretaries, and Communities Leaders in Udu and Ughelli South, that it is not business as usual as the impacts of the MORE agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori must be felt in the education sector.
The SUBEB Chairman appealed to the various stakeholders to partner with the state government to improve quality and standard of education at the foundation level, which is the primary education.
Mariere said to ensure that public education infrastructure are protected from vandals, Communities, Traditional Institutions and School Base Management Committee, SBMC must own the schools in their localities.
He disclosed that the board would be organizing orientation induction trainings for the over three thousand newly recruited teachers by the state government in the state, saying that the aim is to prepare them with the right skills in line with current realities in the education sector.
Hon Mariere charged the Education Secretaries in the Local Government Education Authorities to ensure they establish Desk Officers in all Primary Schools in the state for effective information and communication flow.
The Subeb Executive Chairman added that quality assurance must take it place in the areas of supervision as well as improving standards in Public Primary Schools.
Mariere called on head teachers to ensure that enrollment in the next term academic section doubles as efforts should be made to woo parents to take advantage of free education and quality school infrastructures provided by the state government to enroll their children and wards.
He noted that Governor Oborevwori has promised and is ready to do more in the education sector, disclosing plans to build teachers’ quarters in school premises across the state.
The SUBEB Boss accompanied by other members of the board, however called on community leaders to assist government in that regards to achieve the set goal.
Mariere stated that government intends to established three Smart Schools in the three senatorial districts of the state where laptops would be provided for teachers and tabs for pupils as part of government efforts in making public primary schools the best in the state.
He promised to address issues raised, especially returning payment of teachers to the board with release of pay slips, even as he called on head teachers to work closely with the communities.
Heads of personnel management of Udu and Ughelli South local government councils, Mr Omodio Mudiaga and Mr Austin Emadukua welcome the initiatives of SUBEB to re-engineer public primary schools in the state.
The Education Secretaries of Udu and Ughelli South Local Government Education Authorities, Mr Eki Afuevure and Mr Basil Esekumuemu, commended the state government for the recruitment of teaching and non teaching staff in the schools and promised to work in line with current reforms by SUBEB.
Trade Unions, including NASU, AOPSHON and NUT in their presentations appealed to SUBEB to look into prompt release of curriculum and scheme of works, approval for 3000 naria registration for Basic Six School, return of teachers’ payment back to Subeb, issuance of pay slips, and new blocks of class rooms, amongst other demands.
Hon Mariere and his team were at the palace of the traditional ruler of Udu kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Delekpe, Ohworhu 1, where he briefed the Monarch on the present reforms by the Oborevwori administration in the education sector.
He called for partnership between the board and communities in the kingdom, through the School Based Management Committee, in enhancing teaching and learning as well as improving and protecting basic school infrastructures in their localities.