Gov. Oshiomhole

Jethro Ibileke/Benin
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Edo State Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS)‎, Comrade (Mrs.) Bridgitte Asemota, ‎has disclosed that no fewer than 2,500 public schools teachers have exited from service in Edo state schools in the last 14 years.

Comrade Asemota, who made this disclosure while speaking at a ceremony to mark the 2016 World Teachers Day celebrations in Benin, bemoaned the dearth of teachers in the state public schools.

She explained that the teachers exited the public schools’ service between 2002 and 2016 through retirement, resignation, withdrawal and death without replacement.

Asemota however commended the state government’s sustainable investment on education, but stated that “the 50 science teachers engaged by Edo state government recently, though is appreciated, is like a drop of water in the ocean.

“Over 14 years ago when mass recruitment of teachers took place in Edo State, about 2,500 teachers have exited from the service, either through retirement, resignation, withdrawal and even through death without replacement”.

“The acute shortage of teachers which has left some secondary schools in the state with only one teacher, has no doubt undermined the good infrastructural work done in the schools. The education system need more teachers, we plead”, she said.

She lamented the delay in the promotion of public schools’ teachers who were subjected to written and oral interviews seven months ago without any positive response to cushion the effects of shortage of staff.

Nevertheless, Commrade Asemota commened the cordial relationship between ASUSS and the state government, saying it was something to cheer about, especially in the area of prompt payment of teachers’ salaries and securing a permanent site for the union.
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She however appealed to the state government to prevail on the state leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress to put an end to monthly illegal deduction of secondary school teachers’ salaries which began over two years ago.

Dr. Edeaghe Ehikhamenor, in the School of Dentistry, University of Benin and Founder/National Coordinator, Save Accident Victims Association of Nigeria spoke on the theme: “valuing teachers, improving on their status”.

He tasked teachers to shun abominable practices that tarnish the image of the profession and remain committed to their duties at all times to restore the image of the noble profession.
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