The Zamfara Teachers Service Board has clarified that the recent disengagement of 109 contract teachers by the state government was not based on ethnic, tribal, or religious reasons.
The Chairman of the board, Alhaji Muhammad Aliyu-Anka, made this known while speaking to newsmen in Gusau on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state government recently announced the dismissal of 109 contract teachers for failing to comply with the government’s contract policies.
“The disengagement of the teachers was not based on ethnic, religious, or tribal reasons; it was in the best interest of the state,” Aliyu-Anka stated.
He further explained that Governor Dauda Lawal had declared a state of emergency in the education sector, leading to significant infrastructural investments across the state.
Aliyu-Anka emphasized that the provision of qualified and regular teachers was essential to meet the government’s educational goals. He revealed that some of the dismissed teachers had violated their contracts by teaching in private schools while still receiving government salaries.
“The board recommended the termination of contracts for teachers who did not adhere to state rules and regulations. Many of the disengaged teachers were not attending schools, leaving volunteers to teach the pupils,” Aliyu-Anka added.
He also noted that many volunteer teachers were more qualified than the dismissed teachers, yet they were not receiving salaries from the state government.
“In recognition of the contributions of these volunteer teachers, the state government plans to recruit 2,000 teachers to fill the gaps left by the disengaged contract teachers,” he concluded.
