No plan to sack teachers, says Fayemi

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has denied rumours that he plans to sack teachers after the governorship election.

He said the rumour was the handiwork of his detractors, adding that they were behind attempts to paint his administration black and misinterpret its intentions for the Education sector.

Fayemi spoke yesterday at the Ola Oluwa Muslim Grammar School in Ado-Ekiti at the closing of the 2013 Cluster Schools Model for the Teachers’ Professional Development Training Programme.

He said the government encourages teachers to partake in capacity building programmes, adding that this paid off as evident in last year’s Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

Fayemi said last year’s SSCE result was the best in the last 10 years, adding that his administration had reasons to be proud of teachers.

He said: “There is no reason we should not make teachers proud of their profession. We are asking you to undergo capacity building training because we believe in your ability to deliver. Last year’s SSCE result is the best we have had in the last 10 years. It is the result of your work, not mine. Teachers in public schools are better remunerated than those in private schools, so why should pupils in public schools not be better than those in private schools? The best pupils last year were from Ikere High School; Government Girls College, Iyin; and Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti. You are the ones to help us maintain this standard and achieve 100 per cent.”

Fayemi said the government would improve teachers’ welfare package this year in appreciation of their hard work.

State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Kayode Akosile said: “There have been insinuations that teachers do not like you and that you do not like teachers. But the way the crowd welcomed you when you came in today showed the true situation of things. I think the rumour is the handiwork of political gladiators. For as long as you (Fayemi) remain governor, teachers will continue to support you. You will continue to carry our loads and we will continue to bring our complaints to your door step. Despite the state’s financial constraints, I, like many others, received an alert yesterday that my January salary had been paid. Many of our colleagues in other states are yet to receive their December salary.”

Thanking the government for organising the training, he said: “There is need to continue to learn, especially under this type of unique cluster training.”

At the event were the Deputy Governor, who also chairs the State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Commissioner for Education Kehinde Ojo and chairman of the State Teaching Service Commission Bayo Adeniran, among others.