Abia Govt appeals to community leaders for assistance as new teachers reject postings to villages
The Abia State government is urging traditional rulers and presidents of rural communities to provide accommodations for an influx of newly employed teachers assigned to schools in their villages.
This appeal follows reports that a significant number of the 4,074 new teachers assigned to rural areas have declined their postings. Concerns among these teachers primarily center on being separated from their families and facing difficulties in securing housing, alongside the burdens of high transportation costs to travel to their designated schools.
During a press briefing in Umuahia on Wednesday, Goodluck Ubochi, the Abia State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, called on local community leaders to make arrangements to house the new teachers while the state government seeks a long-term solution to these issues.
Ubochi emphasized the importance of retaining these teachers, encouraging them to accept their assignments before returning to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to discuss their experiences, which will be taken into consideration for future actions.
“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to our community traditional rulers and presidents general: when these teachers are posted to your communities, please make arrangements to accommodate them,” Ubochi stated.
He expressed surprise at the teachers’ reluctance to work in more remote areas, highlighting that each of the 4,075 newly hired teachers had signed agreements with the state government committing them to accept postings wherever needed.
In a bid to incentivize teachers to work in rural communities, Governor Alex Otti has approved a special payment package for those who accept such positions. Ubochi reassured that additional financial benefits await any teacher willing to serve in these areas.
Additionally, the commissioner noted that various units within the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education have been mobilized to monitor attendance and address issues of absenteeism and professional misconduct among teachers.
