Teachers in Etsako West Local Council, one of the six Local Governments in Edo North senatorial district on Monday shuned Governor Godwin Obaseki directive to resume school, no thanks to the Nigerian Union of Teachers whose members were on ground to enforce the strike action.
A visit by the Etsako West Council Chairman, Hon. Imonofi Inusa to some of the schools in the Local Government revealed that teachers were conspicuously absent from schools.
Others who were present were said to have been sent back home by the officials of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT).
At Azama Primary School, Jattu, the Headmistress was not on duty. Only one teacher was present as at 9:49AM when the Council boss visited the school.
Same scenario played out at Ebienafe Primary School were pupils were seen loitering around the school premises.
At Omogba Primary, Uzairue, the pupils were already on their way home at 11:06AM when the Council Chairman visited as there were no teachers present to coordinate their affairs.
The Council boss who was disturbed by the development said the teachers should reconsider their decision to go on strike in the interest of the pupils who have been at home for too long.
He said: ” The teachers have no reason to embark on strike today. I am not happy over that. I have told the security agencies to go round and check that the schools’ properties are intact and that nobody should temper with them.
“My message to the teachers is that, by tomorrow if they fail to report to school, we shall know the necessary action to take.”
Regional Manager, EdoBest, Ms Fundah Abubakar who monitored the development observed that primary schools in the Local Government were closed, describing the action of the teachers as selfish.
According to her: “To me going on strike at this critical time is selfish considering the fact that they have been at home for long. Their reason for going on strike may be valid but their action at this time is selfish. These children have missed alot in terms of learning in the past months including the lockdown period they have been at home.
” Even the virtual learning we organised, alot of the children don’t have access to the internet. So that wasn’t effective.”
This blog reports that the teachers are embarking on the strike as a result of the failure of the Edo State Government to meet its 10-points long-age demands.
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