Katsina stops payment of salaries to over 100 teachers, gives reason

• Musawa said some of the affected teachers had abandoned their job for between one to three months, but still wanted to be paid salaries for work not done.

Katsina State Government says it has stopped the payment of salaries to more than 100 public school teachers.

The state Commissioner, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Zainab Musawa, who disclosed this, said the state government took the decision after the teachers were found guilty of dereliction of duty.

Speaking at the pre-inauguration of a Joint Education Sector Coordination Committee, Musawa said the teachers abscond from their duties.

The committee, expected to consist of stakeholders within the education sector, aims to help identify gaps within the sector and proffer solutions.

Musawa said some of the affected teachers had abandoned their jobs for between one and three months, but still wanted to be paid salaries for work not done.

She said one of the derelict teachers, who is a school Principal, recently wrote to her that he had resumed work a few days ago, even after schools had already closed for the holiday for more than a month.

She said none of the teachers found to have absconded would be paid their salaries, and would only be considered in September this year after their cases have been reviewed.

The Commissioner also lamented that in some states’ public schools, less than 60 per cent of teachers attend classes, with many of them not entering classes to teach their subjects for months.

She said in one school where there were more than 75 teachers, only about 10 teachers were found to be in school during an unscheduled visitation day.

She said in another school that has about 1,000 teachers, only about 80 teachers were found to be in school, with most classes empty during another unscheduled visitation day.

Musawa said teaching quality in primary and secondary schools in the state needs to be improved, and teachers need to do their part in making this a reality.

She said the state government is working tirelessly to better the education sector and has put in place mechanisms to revamp the sector.

She said the education committee, which would consist of stakeholders like Save the Children International, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and related bodies, would meet frequently to come up with ideas that would move the sector forward.