Obinna Uchendu
Abakaliki
The Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government and Coordinating Commissioner, Dr. Kenneth Ugballa yesterday directed for the immediate suspension of 2 Junior Secondary School Principals and a teacher in the State over alleged truancy and other unprofessional conducts.
Dr. Ugballa gave the directive during an unscheduled visit to schools across the state with members of the State Secondary Education Board, SEB and the Universal Basic Education Board, UBEB.
The Principals suspended by the State Government includes, the Junior Principal, Nnodo Secondary School, Mrs. Ann Okafor who was handed down a one-month working suspension without pay while her counterpart of Junior Secondary School, Izzi High School, Mrs. Okereke Angelina was also given a two months suspension without pay.
Dr. Ugbala directed that, Mr. Monday Ogbu, a teacher in the Senior Secondary School, Izzi High School also be suspended for two months without salary for signing attendance register and thereafter disappeared from the school without permission or signing the movement register.
He also directed that Mrs. Vivian Eluu takes over as the Acting Principal, Junior Secondary School, Izzi High School in Ebonyi Local Government Area of the state.
In the same vein, the SSG mandated that all the teachers from Nnodo Secondary School and other schools visited who were late to school be queried while the Principal of the Senior Secondary School Nnodo, Mr. Jacob Eze be transferred to another school.
The SSG also directed that some of the students who were late to school should be given corporal punishment to serve as deterrent to others.
The Secretary to the State Government maintained that the decision became necessary because of the level of decay in the schools system but however, commended employees who are committed to their work.
He stressed that Ebonyi State Government would do her best to revamp the education sector using a pragmatic approach for quick fix.
Dr. Ugballa attributed the decay in the sector to negligence and stagnation, stressing that there was no justification for a teacher or principal to be absent from school without proper communication as to his/her where about.
According to him, “Teachers should communicate to heads of departments, Principals and Vice Principals as the case may be if they have any cause to be absent from school by signing the movement register with clear description of their where about.
“Governor Umahi has declared a State of emergency on supervision and monitoring of our schools. Principal Officers of Government have been drafted to move around schools to monitor what is happening in our schools”.
“Therefore, as a Government, we will not condone indolence, and will sanction insincere and lazy workers who do not justify their monthly remunerations”.
“Any teacher who is not ready to perform his/her statutory duty should give way for others who are willing and unemployed”. Ends.
