The newly appointed Executive Chairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), Dr. Kassim Muhammad Kassim, has taken decisive action against teacher absenteeism by suspending salary payments to all teachers at LEA Primary School Kurmin Shinkafa in Kokona Local Government Area.
The directive came on Wednesday morning during an unannounced visit to the school, where Dr. Kassim discovered an abandoned staffroom and unsupervised pupils wandering around the premises without instruction.
Shocking Discovery at School Visit
During interactions with students, the NSUBEB chairman learned that no teacher, including the headmaster, had reported to duty for months, effectively leaving the children to attend classes without any form of supervision or education.
Visibly angered by the situation, Dr. Kassim immediately ordered the stoppage of salary payments for the current month to all staff assigned to the school. He further directed the Education Secretary of Kokona LGA to reassign all the affected teachers to remote schools across the state with immediate effect.
Public Apology Requirement
In an unprecedented disciplinary move, the chairman mandated that all affected teachers must write public apology letters addressed to both the parents of the pupils and the Nasarawa State Government through the board. These letters must be published on popular social media platforms within the state before their names would be considered for reinstatement on the payroll.
"You cannot collect regular salaries as teachers without reporting to work; it will not be tolerated under my leadership," Dr. Kassim stated firmly. "I am prepared to dismiss such teachers, as there are persons who genuinely need these jobs."
He added, "If you do not need our job, do not need our money. We are willing to employ those who need the job and our money."
Part of Broader Accountability Drive
This surprise inspection is reportedly part of a statewide accountability initiative aimed at restoring discipline and improving the standard of basic education across Nasarawa State. The chairman's actions signal a zero-tolerance approach to negligence in the education sector.
The incident at Kurmin Shinkafa highlights ongoing challenges in Nigeria's education system, particularly in rural areas where teacher absenteeism has been a persistent issue affecting educational outcomes for students.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the chairman's decisive action, noting that accountability measures are essential for improving the quality of education in public schools across the state.
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