TheCable

The committee on verification and biometric data capture of local education authority staff in Borno says 60 percent of primary school teachers in the state lack requisite qualifications.

Shettima Kulima, chairman of the committee, disclosed this while submitting the committee’s report to Babagana Zulum, the Borno governor, on Wednesday.

According to Kulima, out of the 26,250 screened, only 10,103 possessed the requisite teaching qualifications.

Kulima explained that during the screening, the committee discovered anomalies such as staff with fake certificates, those due for retirement but had refused to leave the system, questionable appointment letters, underaged teachers, and those working in multiple places.

“Some are working in two or three places; Biu local government area is leading in the number of such workers,” he said.

“Maiduguri metropolitan council is leading in workers with fake certificates with about 700 of them, followed by Jere local government area with 336.

“Konduga local government area has the highest number of those with questionable appointment letters, while Ngala leads with underaged employees.”

He noted that the committee proffered 30 recommendations, including staff motivation in order to sanitise primary education in the state.

Kulima said the committee was able to reduce the monthly wage bill of primary school teachers after the screening from N693.1 million to N427.8 million.

Receiving the report, the governor lauded the committee for a thorough job and assured them of his administration’s commitment to sanitising the system.

While noting that education is the bedrock of development, Zulum said his administration places a high premium on education and would not compromise on quality, particularly at the primary school level.

“Let me assure you that government will engage in the recruitment of quality staff, and we will ensure that teachers are motivated,” Zulum said.

“One of your recommendations is staff motivation. We will give you the responsibility to fish out the hard-working teachers for a reward.”