It is widely said that the foundation of education is at the primary and secondary levels and the epicenter of education is the teacher.
In the words of Campos and Pradhan, "teachers are the transmitters of knowledge who ensure that children learn."
However, a significant problem affecting learning in Ebonyi State is the problem of absentee teachers.
Investigation shows that in Ebonyi State, there have been recurring allegations of teachers who absent themselves from duty especially in some government owned primary and secondary schools.
This set of teachers, mainly in rural schools, not only short-change the pupils and students, who they are supposed to teach, but also defraud the government by collecting salaries and not working to justify the payments.
Following the allegation, Radio Nigeria visited two schools in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and the observations confirmed that some teachers do not go to school.
One of them is Community Junior Secondary School Nkalagu, which has a total of eighteen teachers but a look at the time book reveals that the highest attendance they had recorded since the new term commenced on January 8, 2024 is nine teachers on a particular day but with an average attendance of five per day.
It was a similar scenario at Community Junior Secondary School Umuhali, which has a total of eight teachers but at the time Radio Nigeria visited, not all the teachers were in school, including the Principal who was said to be coming from nearby Enugu State.
One of the teachers we met, also tried to give reasons for the absence of some of his colleagues at the time of the visit, but later acknowledged that some of the teachers, particularly the English teacher seemed to have absconded from duty.
"As it is now, we have no English teacher. We have not seen the teacher for one year now and it is the Principal that should explain better.
It is the Igbo teacher that helps to teach the students English language," the teacher said anonymously.
When Radio Nigeria approached the Executive Secretary, Ishielu Local Education Authority, Mr. Walter Ebeh, he affirmed that some teachers under his watch had poor attendance to work but said the issue would be addressed.
"We have issued a lot of queries because of what they have been doing. This time around, I have told them that it is not business as usual.
"We are going to stop the salaries of people that fail to go to work, those that abscond from duty; we can't habour ghost workers," he said.
Also, when contacted, the Chairman, Ishielu Local Government Area, Dr. John Onwe, who described absenteeism of teachers as corruption, said he had directed the Education Secretary to compile a list of such teachers for disciplinary action.
"Most of the complaints are that the teachers don't come to work. I have directed the LEA Secretary to go to that place and look at the register and then, I will take it from there because he is the only one that can forward the report to me and based on the report, I will act," the Chairman said.
In an interview, the Secretary, Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Dr. Livinus Ezeuwa, said he would direct the Education Secretaries of the Local Government to furnish him with the list of the affected teachers with an assurance that they would be disciplined strictly in line with the service rule.
"We will also use service rule to deal with them. Some we may drop from heading schools; some we may prevent from taking their salaries because they didn't work for it; some we may deny what they may think is their entitlement for failure to work," the UBEB Executive Secretary threatened.
Dr. Ezeuwa further denied the allegation that some of the absentee teachers give gratification to top members of the State Universal Basic Education Board, to remain untouchable.
He said if such happened, it was in the past as the leadership of the present board had zero tolerance for corrupt practices.
This report was facilitated by Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre with support from MacArthur Foundation
It is widely said that the foundation of education is at the primary and secondary levels and the epicenter of education is the teacher.
In the words of Campos and Pradhan, "teachers are the transmitters of knowledge who ensure that children learn."
However, a significant problem affecting learning in Ebonyi State is the problem of absentee teachers.
Investigation shows that in Ebonyi State, there have been recurring allegations of teachers who absent themselves from duty especially in some government owned primary and secondary schools.
This set of teachers, mainly in rural schools, not only short-change the pupils and students, who they are supposed to teach, but also defraud the government by collecting salaries and not working to justify the payments.
Following the allegation, Radio Nigeria visited two schools in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and the observations confirmed that some teachers do not go to school.
One of them is Community Junior Secondary School Nkalagu, which has a total of eighteen teachers but a look at the time book reveals that the highest attendance they had recorded since the new term commenced on January 8, 2024 is nine teachers on a particular day but with an average attendance of five per day.
It was a similar scenario at Community Junior Secondary School Umuhali, which has a total of eight teachers but at the time Radio Nigeria visited, not all the teachers were in school, including the Principal who was said to be coming from nearby Enugu State.
One of the teachers we met, also tried to give reasons for the absence of some of his colleagues at the time of the visit, but later acknowledged that some of the teachers, particularly the English teacher seemed to have absconded from duty.
"As it is now, we have no English teacher. We have not seen the teacher for one year now and it is the Principal that should explain better.
It is the Igbo teacher that helps to teach the students English language," the teacher said anonymously.
When Radio Nigeria approached the Executive Secretary, Ishielu Local Education Authority, Mr. Walter Ebeh, he affirmed that some teachers under his watch had poor attendance to work but said the issue would be addressed.
"We have issued a lot of queries because of what they have been doing. This time around, I have told them that it is not business as usual.
"We are going to stop the salaries of people that fail to go to work, those that abscond from duty; we can't habour ghost workers," he said.
Also, when contacted, the Chairman, Ishielu Local Government Area, Dr. John Onwe, who described absenteeism of teachers as corruption, said he had directed the Education Secretary to compile a list of such teachers for disciplinary action.
"Most of the complaints are that the teachers don't come to work. I have directed the LEA Secretary to go to that place and look at the register and then, I will take it from there because he is the only one that can forward the report to me and based on the report, I will act," the Chairman said.
In an interview, the Secretary, Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Dr. Livinus Ezeuwa, said he would direct the Education Secretaries of the Local Government to furnish him with the list of the affected teachers with an assurance that they would be disciplined strictly in line with the service rule.
"We will also use service rule to deal with them. Some we may drop from heading schools; some we may prevent from taking their salaries because they didn't work for it; some we may deny what they may think is their entitlement for failure to work," the UBEB Executive Secretary threatened.
Dr. Ezeuwa further denied the allegation that some of the absentee teachers give gratification to top members of the State Universal Basic Education Board, to remain untouchable.
He said if such happened, it was in the past as the leadership of the present board had zero tolerance for corrupt practices.
This report was facilitated by Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre with support from MacArthur Foundation
By Emmanuel Luper
158 views
Comments
Leave a Comment
Recent Comments
Good thing they are rising for what is right, kudos
Posted on Sep 04, 2024 at 03:57 PMNice one! Aka Eze Aka all the way🙌🏾
Posted on Sep 04, 2024 at 09:00 PMLovely.. AKA EZE AKA man of the people..
Posted on Sep 04, 2024 at 09:23 PMПолностью трендовые новинки модного мира. Актуальные события самых влиятельных подуимов. Модные дома, торговые марки, haute couture. Лучшее место для стильныех хайпбистов. https://chenews.ru/chepub/387-avariynye-derevya-novye-pravila-v-chelyabinske/
Posted on Sep 05, 2024 at 02:51 AMWhat's up to all, hhow is the whole thing, I think every one is getting more from this web site, and your views are nice in favor of new visitors. https://bandur-ART.Blogspot.com/2024/08/the-ultimate-guide-to-no-mans-sky-mods.html
Posted on Sep 05, 2024 at 10:25 PM<a href="https://1xbetin.com/">1xBet Review</a>
Posted on Sep 06, 2024 at 12:04 AMFantastic moves all hands should be on deck to deliver Ogalla
Posted on Sep 06, 2024 at 11:25 AMHello afriquecast.com administrator, You always provide clear explanations and step-by-step instructions.
Posted on Sep 06, 2024 at 10:00 PMThat's very good 😊 but I wished he gave his brothers and sisters scholarships and also sponsored many of his home town you. By now all academics will be talking of him and his awards.
Posted on Sep 06, 2024 at 11:12 PMhttps://khelraja-india.com/khelraja-login-and-registration/
Posted on Sep 07, 2024 at 07:59 AMGod is not a man that He should lie.He will surely continue to do new things in our lifetime. GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on Sep 07, 2024 at 10:35 AMGod is not a man that He should lie.He will surely continue to do new things in our lifetime. GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on Sep 07, 2024 at 10:36 AMTell him that game's village Awgu is a tourist center capable of generating huge internal revenue.
Posted on Sep 07, 2024 at 01:48 PMEthical Leadership Centre, Enugu recognising visionary leadership is certainly a milestone towards 'making excellence the norm'. Big thanks to Chief Ben Etiaba for his tireless effort to improve our society and it's pillars.
Posted on Sep 10, 2024 at 09:51 AMYes Rangers! Our darling team was the hope of everyone across the niger to get thrilled and be happy. Rangers was the binding wire that bound the faith of the IGBO MAN together. Because the Igbos does not believe in anybody, rather the Igbo-man believes in self and God. He believes in what he can do for himself and others. Otherwise, how could a people in a war situation be cut off from outside world, they were not getting relief materials from the world bodies, no ammunition and the rest, and things got most trying and difficult. But in such horrible state of life, the IGBO-MAN produce the great bomb fondly called (Ojukwu bucket or Ogbunigwe) that destroys and kills in multiple folds, produced fighter jets which they used during the war, the Igbo-man produced his own fuel both for aviation and automotive uses. The Igbo-man started live again after the war with just twenty pounds only and excelled beyond imagination. Rangers FC was a reincarnated spirit of Igbo-man, that of course was the reason Rangers took over the football sphere in Nigeria shortly after it was founded in early 70's. Well let me come back before I go adrift Rangers International FC. I appreciate my brother Chief Ben Etiaba "Ifennia" founder Ethical Leadership Center Enugu, for the good job he is doing , especially in fishing out our men and women of substance who has paid their dues in their different callings and honouring them duly. Finally, my Congratulations goes to Dr. Joseph Ugboaja the Chief Medical Director Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi for his milestone achievement so far at NAUTH. I also congratulate the young enterprising Director of Rangers management board chief Ugboaku for his visionary leadership and achievements. God bless you all, and let the flame keep burning!
Posted on Sep 10, 2024 at 05:25 PMPainful. Ijele colleague
Posted on Sep 13, 2024 at 02:03 PMHi this is somewat of off topic but I waas wanting to know iff blogs usse WYSIWYG editors orr iff you hazve too manually code with HTML. I'm starting a blog ssoon but have no coding expertise so I wanyed to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated! https://lvivforum.pp.ua/
Posted on Sep 14, 2024 at 01:12 AMМодные советы по выбору необычных луков на любой день. Статьи стилистов, события, все новые коллекции и шоу. https://vladtoday.ru/news/2024-09-10-10-prichin-za-chto-my-lyubim-demnu-gvasaliyu/
Posted on Sep 14, 2024 at 09:35 AMYou were hired by another community to come and fight for them, after which you got that land as compensation. And you think you will live in another man's land?Some of these Ebonyi people dont think straight
Posted on Sep 14, 2024 at 02:05 PMСтильные заметки по подбору модных видов на любой день. Мнения профессионалов, новости, все коллекции и шоу. https://vladtoday.ru/news/2024-09-10-10-prichin-za-chto-my-lyubim-demnu-gvasaliyu/
Posted on Sep 14, 2024 at 04:59 PMCan one person sell community land, accord to MrAlinta
Posted on Sep 14, 2024 at 10:17 PMCarry de go you are the man of universal love, The Lord choosing.one.
Posted on Sep 15, 2024 at 12:04 AMSimply wish to say your article iss as amazing. The clarity in your post is simply cool and i could assume you are an expert on this subject. Well with your permission let me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to dazte with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the gratifying work. https://Lvivforum.PP.Ua
Posted on Sep 16, 2024 at 07:45 AMVote Pdp all the way. Tomorrow is here
Posted on Sep 18, 2024 at 06:18 PMWhat a material of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious fammiliarity about unpredicted feelings. https://Lvivforum.Pp.ua
Posted on Sep 19, 2024 at 02:56 PM