As part of the government’s efforts to prevent teacher migration between rural and urban areas, the Bayelsa State Post Primary Schools Board (BYPPSB) reports that it has submitted a proposal to the state governor, Senator Douye Diri, asking him to approve a special allowance for teachers working in schools in rural communities.
When the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Bayelsa State Chapter, paid him a solidarity visit at his office as part of festivities to mark the 2022 World Teachers Day at the Education House in Yenagoa, the board chairman, Millionaire Asangba, revealed this.
The state government has created numerous policies and programs, according to the board chairman, that would positively impact the educational industry and enhance the welfare of the teachers who toil persistently to educate, groom, and raise the Bayelsa child.
Further, he cautioned teachers who have a practice of not showing up to the classroom to teach but yet receiving pay each month to stop doing so immediately since the government would no longer accept such behavior.
“I’m glad you appreciate the current administration for promptly paying your salaries,” he stated. Although I am pleased that you are enthusiastic about this growth, you will become my enemy the day I visit your school and I don’t see you in the classroom instructing students.
“The government is working on a special stipend for you, so that teachers would cease moving from rural to urban areas,” was the government’s response to those who teach in rural schools and are complaining about the living conditions and high cost of commuting to their stations.
Christopher Ewhrudjakpo, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, also spoke and reaffirmed that while education has not been accorded pride of place throughout Nigeria, it has begun to experience increased wellbeing in Bayelsa State.
As you are all aware, I began my career as a teacher. And the instructor speaking to me was previously one of my students. So I’m pleading with the government to teach our kids how to grow up to be great men and women while still quickly paying your salaries and enhancing your welfare.
After a solidarity march with the slogan “The Transformation of Education Begins With Teachers,” the state chairman of ASUSS addressed the media and thanked the administration for paying salaries on time, but he also made a plea for better educational facilities throughout the state to help teachers work more productively.
“We appreciate the government for paying our salaries on time,” he added, adding that they had his willingness to collaborate on raising educational standards. However, we wish to make a request to the government to enhance the state’s educational infrastructure and offer teaching resources to support educators effectively.
I want to stress that we fully endorse the idea of giving teachers in rural areas a special allowance. We also pray that the Governor quickly approves the idea so that those rural teachers will be glad to work. I say this because salaries alone cannot afford the monthly transportation costs incurred by instructors in far-off rural regions.
