The Oyo State Government has suspended 13 primary school Head Teachers, two Assistant Head Teachers and a class Teacher for extortion and other misconducts.
Their suspension which was with immediate effect was announced on Monday via a directive from the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, after an inspection tour of some schools in Ibadan metropolis.
Adeniran warned that the government would not tolerate indiscipline among teachers, as he explained that the Board suspended the teachers due to established facts met on ground at the various schools they supervised.
According to him, besides the illegal collection of fees from pupils, the suspended teachers were also guilty of insubordination and refusal to comply with posting instructions.
He said the teachers would face a disciplinary committee set up by the board which has been mandated to ensure a thorough probe of the allegations and give all concerned fair hearing.
Adeniran gave the names of the suspended Head Teachers as Mrs. Agnes Amodu of IMG Primary school, Olubadan and Mrs. Janet Ayoade, St. John’s Catholic Primary School 1, Eleta, who both refused to comply with posting instructions.
Mrs. Risikat Motunrayo Ogundele, the Head Teacher, Atolu Model Primary School 4, Oremeji was suspended for detaining a Primary 3 pupil at a police station.
Those suspended by the SUBEB for illegal collection of fees were; Mrs. Kehinde Oyediran and Mrs. Monsurat Olaniyan, Head-Teachers at Community Primary School 1 and 2, Idi-Obi, Airport, Ibadan; Mr. Omotosho Michael, Mrs. Bilikisu Romoke and Mrs. Oyenike Damilola Adisa, Head Teachers at Community Primary School 1, 2, and 3, Sasa, Ibadan.
Similarly, Head Teachers of St. Paul’s Primary School 1,2,3 and 4, Yemetu, Mrs. Olukoga; Mrs. C.G. Lawal; Mrs. Simbiat Adewale and Mrs. O. F. Ogunbiyi were suspended for illegal collection of fees.
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The Head Teacher, IMG, School 1, Oje-Igosun, Mrs. Esther Oluranti Adeboye, alongside her accomplices, an Assistant Head Teacher, Mrs. Romoke Ahmadu-Bello and a Primary 6 teacher, Mrs. Omolola Abobade were also suspended for illegal collection of fees.
An Assistant Head Teacher, IMG School 2, Oje-Igosun, Mufudat Abioye was also suspended for illegal collection of fees.
Recall that the Oyo State Government, after announcing free and qualitative education in May 2019, approved the payment of N526 Million as running grants to Primary and Secondary schools for the first term of 2019/2020 session.
The schools are expected to submit records of disbursements to the State Government at the end of each term.
The SUBEB chairman said: “It was during our tour of schools that we discovered failure of some teachers to comply with posting instructions, while some of them were collecting illegal money from the pupils, despite reiteration of the free education policy of this administration.”
He added: “So far, we have discovered that some saboteurs are among the teachers, who are flouting the State Government’s directives and pulling down our efforts to sanitise the teaching system in the State.”
He described the actions of the teachers as unruly, adding that the Government would set up a standing disciplinary committee to deal with such misdemeanors.
“We discovered that the absence of supervision and monitoring of education activities in the State has given so much room for impunity and indiscipline. We will not allow this to happen henceforth.
“This would serve as a deterrent to saboteurs among the Head Teachers in the State. They should know henceforth, that the State Government will not tolerate indiscipline.”
While reiterating the resolve of the Governor Seyi Makinde-led government to create a conducive teaching environment for teachers, through provision of infrastructures, payment of running grants and prompt payment of salaries, Adeniran insisted that the State Government would not condone quackery and indiscipline in the teaching profession.