By Lola Seriki-Idahosa, Kaduna
Tracereporters –The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) Kaduna State chapter, has commended the kaduna state government for creating an enabling environment for teaching in Kaduna state.
Addressing it’s members at the 2023 World Teachers Day Celebration in Kaduna held at the Kabir Gymnasium hall with Theme ‘The Teachers We Need For The Education We Want’ under the Chairmanship of Chief Gandu Sunday ‘Danmasanin Kagoro’.
Delivering his speech at the occasion, the state Chairman of ASUSS Comrade Ishaya B. Dauda said Secondary School Tutors in Kaduna state deserve an increase in their salaries and other welfare packages so as to stimulate them to redouble their energy towards better service delivery in the Education sector in Kaduna State.
According to him, “An increased in the Teachers minimum wage and other
welfare packages such as provision of accommodation for tutors within the school premises to case hardships, re-introduction of science allowance for science tutors, introduction of rural allowance to encourage tutors working in rural areas, provision of soft loans to tutors and introduction of hazard allowance to all our members will enhance better service delivery in the education sector”.
ASUSS also appealed to the kaduna state government to approve the 65/40
years harmonized retirement age for the tutors in Kaduna State.
According to the chairman, ”The 65/40 years harmonized retirement age for tutors approved by the federal
government two (2) years ago has been implemented by so many states such as
Kano, Kogi, Adamawa, Taraba and a host of others. We wish to appeal to our
amiable Governor,
“His Excellency Comrade Uba Sani to please approve the 65/40 years harmonized retirement age for the tutors in Kaduna State. Kaduna State is the Headquarters of the North and all other Northern States copy from our state.
“The state government is expected to lead in the implementation of the 65/40 years harmonized retirement age for teachers just like it led in the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage”.
On Security, the union appealed to the state government to redouble her
energy towards securing lives and properties of her citizens particularly our
schools.
The Chairman however commended the efforts of the State Government in posting of KADVIS to secure schools and appeal for more.
He said, “more is expected in this area because the menace of insecurity such as banditry and kidnapping is on the rise in the state. Many of our members and students have been kidnapped with so many death recorded for those who are either unlucky or unable to pay heavy ransom imposed on them or could not survive the hardship involve,
“Effort need to be taken by the state government to control this menace to prevent closure of more schools in the rural areas across the state.
The Union also commended the state government for its investment in the area construction and renovation of schools across the state.
According to him, “this measure has brought education closer to our rural dwellers to enable our children have access to free education.
“In order to consolidate on these gains, the union wishes to recommend
the following: Posting of qualified Principals to manage our Secondary Schools.
“Involvement of the union where necessary to proffer solutions in order to
better service delivery in the education sector.
“Provision of more laboratories and supply of laboratory equipment’s to
encourage science education in our schools.
“The union wishes to appeal to the Ministry of Education to redouble her
efforts towards monitoring the activities of WAEC and NECO particularly
on the area of posting Tutors who supervise their examinations.
On recruitment/posting of teachers, he commended the state government for massive recruitment of teachers to teach in our secondary schools. This has actually reduced the Teachers-Students ratio to the bearest minimum which is geared towards qualitative education in the state.
“The Ministry of Education, Kaduna
State Teachers Service Board and Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance
Authority is expected to step-up proper monitoring of schools so as to justify huge government investments in the education sector.
While delivering lecture, the guest speaker, Dr John Silas of the College of Education, Gidan Waya, emphasized on the need to be objective in the area of teaching and learning
In the same vein, the representative of the Director General of Quality Assurance, Mrs Mercy Binta, implored the State government for more teachers therefore task every teachers to look inward by self examining, adding that self- examinations are one of the qualities of a teacher
In his speech the representative of Commissioner for Education, Labaran Hassan who is the Deputy Director Public Schools Kaduna, in his speech extol the importance of teachers as mother of all professions
Labaran said, as the theme of this year Would Teachers Day “The Teachers We Need For Education We Want ” the teachers should come up with a propose plan on how to bring back out of school children
Other dignitaries at the event they include Chief Gandu Sunday, Danmasanin Kagarko among others.
