How El-rufa’i Sets Basic Education For Destruction In Kaduna State -By M. Ali Baba

It Is Often Said That We Should Believe Them, Not By Their Words But Their Actions.

The government of El-rufa’i of Kaduna State has disappointed the primary school teachers recruited in 2018 as part of its agenda for the transformation of basic education in the state.

Governor El-rufa’i lured the new teachers into the service with a lot of lucrative incentives but none has come to effect for more than three years of these teachers in the service. Not even confirmation which normally takes effect after two years.

According to El-rufa’i in 2018, “Currently, we have more teachers in urban areas than we have in rural areas because the salary package is the same and so whenever teachers are posted to rural schools they redeploy to urban centres.
“I’ve directed the ministry of education and other relevant stakeholders to come
up with juicy incentives that will keep quality teachers in rural areas and in the teaching profession as a whole.

“We’ll provide them with accommodation (three bedroom flat for each Head Master and two each for teachers, including motorcycle) and 35% allowance.”

Recall in 2018 after the recruitment, the governor himself told the whole world that he has recruited about 25,000 “competent teachers” for primary schools in the 23 local governments in the state. This was done after he dismissed over 21,000 in 2017 for allegedly failing a primary four test conducted on the (then) teachers to determine their competency.

Now, Instead of fulfilling his  promises to new teachers by providing accommodation, mobility, allowances and issue them the confirmation letter as he promised, he is threatening them with another bizarre “Competency Test,” added to the usual (very) late payment of their salaries and unremitted pension fund to their pension accounts.

Regrettably, as at the time of filing this report, very reliable sources said many primary school teachers in Kaduna State were yet to receive their October salary up to the time of compiling this piece on the 20th of November, 2021. While it is almost time for their counterparts in the other sectors to start receiving their November salary, it is only a few local governments that have paid.

“My brother, today is the 20th of November but I have not received my October salary. This is what they have been doing to us while expecting us to put in our best in the classroom. I don’t even know what our offense is. Everything seems like it is a curse to be a teacher in this life. El-rufa’i has failed us because he has completely demoralized our zeal for this job at the inception.”

These are words of a primary school teacher in Kaduna State who preferred anonymity.

Mr Governor, what a damn?

When do you usually receive your salary and unwarranted allowances?

What do you gain from inflicting pain on fellow human beings?

These innocent souls we expect to effectively mold our children also have families and dependants to cater for. Do you expect them to go to the classroom to impart knowledge with empty stomach and unsettled home? Obviously, there is no way any human being (including you) can do anything meaningful in the face of hunger and family issues. They can’t perform miracles for crying out loud.

You are now coming up with your usual controversial policies to pay #45,000 to each parent of the primary school pupils, while you remain inconsistent with the payment of teachers salaries and pay deaf ears to their plights.

Is this not a misplacement of priority, or incompetent nature of your commissioner for education?

It is absolutely a waste of time and resources for any government to invest heavily in education  without putting human resources first. Because these people (teachers) are responsible for the ultimate execution of the educational policies that could bring about positive results of the investment to the targeted population (learners).

As your government promised a drastic transformation of basic education in Kaduna State, Sadly, your approach has taken a wrong direction along the lines. Yes, this is not the way to go about it. You shouldn’t allow the teachers to lose their passion for the job, nor should you be changing the faces of teachers in the classroom frequently. It has irreparable (negative) effects on the learners. Learners, especially children at this basic level, learned best with teachers they are very well familiar with.

Seriously, if Mr. Governor should fulfill the promises he made to the new teachers, surely, the Basic Education in Kaduna State will have no choice but to attract the best hands. But from the look of things right now, the reverse will be the case if he refuses to do the right thing and at the right time. Already, some teachers have reportedly tendered resignation letters to their respective local government as their expectations were dashed by the authorities concerned.

“A lot of people have moved on as they see no light at the end of the tunnel in this job. I’m also waiting for a slight opportunity and once it surfaces, I’m leaving. Most of my colleagues that left went back to their private organizations which is better off, because motivation here is zero. It is better to go where you can put in your best and get a reward. Instead swarms of swords inform of intimidations.”  Another teacher said

Unfortunately, even the relevant stakeholders like Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (Kad-SUBEB) who is responsible for effective running of basic education in the state seems to be politically beclouded and absent-minded to the necessities of her responsibilities. They are busy conniving with the government that has no knowledge of what is needed for a smooth running of education for their personal interest.

Indeed, the current Kad-SUBEB chairman, Tijjani Abdullahi is not an Educationalist but an accountant and financial expert who should be in the banking sector. This is the starting point and the genesis of the problem. When a highest position in the state basic education is piloted by an accountant without any wealth of experience in the education sector, the result is destruction.

The government of El-rufa’i has ignored the incompetent individuals in the sector and then frightening the competent ones. Maybe because the Nigerian system is used to running the government of Family and Friends. Hence, an accountant is heading the Educationalists in SUBEB, Kaduna State.

This is purely an act of destruction to the basic education system in Kaduna State. It takes nothing away from the authorities to provide the necessary support to these teachers through genuine motivation, training and retraining for their capacity building. After all, they already possessed qualification(s) and hence, their recruitment in the first place.

Consistent intimidation, sacking and recruiting new ones is not a transformation but destruction of basic education. No serious government can afford to play politics of family and friends with education no matter the situation. Because doing so, is simply ruining the future generations.

So, allow the teachers to remain in the classroom and give them the juicy incentives as you promised.

Because if you have the habit of changing your wife frequently, you will end up with a useless prostitute. Mr governor and the other educational authorities should know this and know peace forever in the world of Kaduna State Basic Education.

Aliyu Baba is a student of  Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

He writes from Kaduna, Nigeria.

He can be reached via: aliyu0380@gmail.com