13,000 Teachers Job; A Promise Kept

The Rivers State Government last week started the release of employment letters of 13000 persons who succeeded in the teachers’ recruitment, conducted last year to address the staffing needs of schools in the state.
The development has eventually made good the promise of government to create employment for a brigade of jobless persons, on the one hand and the re-engineering of the education sector of the state, on the other hand.
By employing a whooping 13,000 teachers at once, Rivers State has created a record for itself. Providing employment for 13,000 persons on its own has the benefit of dousing anger and hunger in the society even as it addresses the staffing needs of our schools.
That the unprecedented employment covers indigenes and non-indigenes alike, underscores the feat that would remain unbeaten for many years to come anywhere in the world. The Tide commends the Rivers State Government for always keeping its promise.
Government deserves more than commendation, because of the benefits the injection of 13,000 teachers holds for the development of education in the state, and the opportunity it affords that number of people to participate in the economy of the state cannot be over-emphasised. Indeed, the multiplier effect it would have on the dependants of the lucky 13,000 can only be imagined.
While we salute this history-making development, we hope that a proper and up-to-date orientation would be given to the new employees. It is expected that some of the noticeable flaws in the staffing of schools over the years will be addressed by this employment and nothing should stand in the way.
The Tide hopes that in addition to providing for specialization, especially, with a view to having the proper staff teach the sciences, Mathematics and English Language, posting of teachers should not be hijacked by some influential persons in the state.
We call for fairness, openness and due process that have been the hallmark of the process since inception to continue. Indeed, for too long, schools in and around Port Harcourt have had more teachers than they needed, while schools in the rural areas lacked enough hands. This trend must change.
We are aware of some incentives for teachers at the rural areas before now, aimed at motivating teachers to remain in the villages. While we expect the process to continue, the Ministry of Education and its agencies must ensure that postings are respected and enforced.
We are also not unaware of some practical problems with posting of teachers to rural areas. Some of which have to do with the absence of teachers quarters, working materials and the apparent disregard for teachers at the rural areas. These also, the ministry must re-visit.
No efforts should be spared at ensuring that the 13,000 teachers truly add more value to our schools. Because social issues are always inter-related, this gesture by government should also help in providing better access, security and interactive programmes for schools in the state.