Academic setbacks are imminent for Edo State public Primary and Secondary schools as the newly recruited 5,500 teachers threaten to withdraw their services due to alleged government’s persistent refusal to issue employment letters.
On school resumption for the first term 2024/2025 academic session on Monday, September 30, 2024, the teachers announced their intention to cease duties starting Monday, October 7, 2024, until the state government addresses their concerns.
Many are worried about the legitimacy of their employment, which has created an alarming sense of instability among the educators, Alltimepost.com investigation has revealed.
The investigation conducted by Alltimepost.com South-South Nigeria Regional Correspondent, Mike Osarogiagbon, revealed that the outcome of the recent governorship election in the state has heightened the tutors’ concerns.
Their worries, findings revealed stemmed from the presumption that their recruitment may have been part of a political maneuver by the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government ahead of the election, of which the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner.
It was further scooped that the uncertainty started mounting last August when a list of successful applicants posted by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) website was quickly removed after its release.
The Executive Chairman of SUBEB Ozavize Salami, was alleged to have claimed that the list was pulled down to allow for the inclusion of additional successful applicants, but this did not in any measure alleviate the anxiety entertained by the teachers.
In separate efforts to clear their worries, the affected teachers were said to have sent a delegation to the Edo SUBEB boss, Salami, who allegedly assured that the employment letters would not be issued until November 11, 2024, just a day before the current government’s term ends, a timeline that further fueled the tutors’ apprehensions.
Alltimepost.com investigation further revealed that the newly recruited teachers have been working under the Edo Supporting Teachers To Achieve Results (EdoSTAR) program, similar to the previous Edo Youth Employment Scheme (EdoYES) introduced during the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led APC government in Edo.
While both programs provided monthly stipends, the promise of transitioning into full-time government jobs has been a major incentive. However, many EdoYES participants were left without jobs when the Oshiomhole administration ended, raising fears of a similar fate for current EdoSTAR teachers.
Some of the newly recruited teachers who wished to remain anonymous while speaking with Alltimepost.com, noted that they are now the primary drivers of learning in Edo public schools as most permanent teachers in the system had advanced into administrative roles while others are retiring.
They expressed gratitude to the state government for providing them with employment opportunities but urged that their positions be formalized to ensure job security and stability in the education system.
“We are dedicated to our students and committed to their success. However, we feel that our contributions and hard work deserve to be recognized and legitimized,” a female teacher said.
They believe that legitimizing their engagement would not only provide them with stability but also enhance the quality of education for students across the state.
The teachers are confident that their scheduled withdrawal service from Monday, will further draw government attention to their situation as they strive to ensure a brighter future for themselves and the students they serve.
Meanwhile, it was also gathered that a notice directing heads of public schools to ensure no EdoSTAR teacher in their school participates in the proposed strike over permanent employment circulated through WhatsApp platforms.
According to the said notice exclusively obtained by our correspondent: “Good Morning All. No EdoSTAR teachers should join any form of strike in regards permanent appointment. The board is already on it. Thanks”.
Attempts by our correspondent to obtain clarifications from the Edo State SUBEB Chairman, Ozavize Salami failed. Calls and message to her phone are yet to be responded to at press time, weekend.
However, a dependable source at the Edo State Ministry of Education hinted that the non-issuance of employment letters to the recruited 5,500 teachers should not elicit any worry.
“There is no course for alarm, they should continue to do their job. Their engagement will form part of governor Obaseki handover note to the incoming government. You know government is a continuum,” the source added.
Announcing the employment of the 5,500 teachers last August, the Edo State SUBEB Executive Chairman Ozavize Salami said it was in accordance with Governor Godwin Obaseki’s directive.
Ozavize stated that the recruitment aimed to address teacher shortages and enhance teaching and learning in Edo schools.
Salami explained that the teachers underwent a rigorous recruitment process, as they will fill identified gaps in primary and junior secondary schools across the state.
She noted that 19,931 applications were received for the teaching positions, with 16,038 candidates selected for computer-based tests and interviews.
She stated that the selected candidates, possessing the necessary skills and expertise, will work in all local government areas of the state.
She explained, “This recruitment of 5,500 personnel is part of our strategy to bridge the teacher gap in primary and junior secondary schools. It is another testament to Governor Obaseki’s unwavering commitment to delivering quality education to the children of Edo State.
“Many of the new teachers are young and dynamic; they will revitalise the existing teaching staff. Governor Obaseki continues to implement measures that will sustain Edo’s position as a leader in educational reform in Nigeria and beyond.”
The Edo SUBEB boss revealed that over 70 per cent of EdoSTAR fellows, who were engaged as trainee teachers two years ago, have been recruited as full-time government teachers.
These fellows, initially on minimum wage, benefited from a recent salary increase, raising their pay from ₦40,000 to ₦70,000 in May 2024.
Salami however assured that of the 5,500 new recruits, 2,500 will be permanent government teachers, while 3,000 will refill the approved EdoSTAR positions and start a new three-year fellowship program.
The recruitment, she stated further aligns with Governor Obaseki’s goal of building on the program’s successes and continuing to enhance learning outcomes for approximately 400,000 children in state-owned primary and junior secondary schools across Edo State.
Earlier in August 2022, the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, said EdoSTAR scheme was not a two-month or casual job, but an entrance into full-time government employment after the successful completion of the teaching fellowship program.
Her words: “There seems to be all kinds of misconceptions about what the EdoSTAR Fellowship is all about; I have heard some people say that it is a casual job. No! It is not. This is a pipeline to going into full-time government’s employment as a full-time teacher.
“The teaching fellowship is to ensure that we have had ample time to train quite a number of our graduates who do not have teaching qualifications, in preparing them to become professionals.”
This ongoing uncertainty about the legitimacy of the recruitment underscores the precarious nature of employment tied to ruling political parties, leaving many teachers in a prolong state of anxiety about their future in Edo State’s education system.
What is certain however is that Edo State government, last August announced the recruitment of 5,500 teachers to boost learning in public primary and junior Secondary schools.
