Don’t politicise education policy, Ekiti teachers warn politicians

The teachers made this position known in Ado Ekiti on Thursday at the closing ceremony of the 2013 Cluster Schools Model for Teacher Professional Development Training Programme, held at Ola Oluwa Muslim Grammar School. 

The state Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Kayode Akosile, said the rumour making the rounds that Fayemi hates teachers and intends to sack a large number of them after re-election is peddled by political gladiators in the opposition parties in order to cause disaffection and use them to actualize their inordinate ambitions.

Teachers in Ekiti State have faulted attempts by some politicians to make cheap political points from the educational policies of the state government, saying that they trust that the efforts of the Dr Kayode Fayemi administration are geared towards repositioning the education sector.

The NUT chairman, who urged politicians to steer clear of the relationship between Fayemi and teachers, stressed that the warmth welcome given by the teachers when Fayemi arrived the venue of the training was a proof  that the governor is on ground with the teachers who have tagged him “the real teachers’ governor”.

Akosile assured that teachers will never betray the governor because he has consistently demonstrated commitment to their welfare, adding that while many of their colleagues in some other states of the federation are yet to receive their December salaries, Ekiti teachers have received January salaries despite the paucity of funds.

“There have been insinuations that teachers don’t like you or that you don’t like teachers. I think today when you came in, the way the crowd welcomed you shows the true situation of things. I think the rumour making the rounds, without any apology, I will say is from the political gladiators. Let me say that as long as Fayemi remains the governor of EKiti State, teachers will continue to give him support. You will continue to carry our loads, we will continue to bring our complaints to your doorsteps. I don’t think we have any apology for that because you are our governor. Despite all odds, the financial incapability, yesterday, I, like many others, received my salary alerts”, Akosile said.