The Governor -elect who recalled the immense contributions of teachers in the state to his success at the polls, assured them that his tenure would not only be eventful but productive for education to thrive in the state.
He assured them of his commitment to uplift the standard of education in the state saying “I’m a product of public primary school and I know what it used to be in those days. It was in school that a lot of people learnt how to live a better life. But it’s unfortunate today, the school environment is the opposite of its former self with dilapidated structures “
According to him, payment of salaries is not an achievement. He stated its a duty, adding that improving education is not an achievement as well, stressing it is a responsibility and that is the mindset his administration would approach it headlong.
The Governor -elect further observed that there is no society that can progress without sound education and assured that the incoming government would deploy available opportunities to revamp the education sector for the greater good of Plateau people.
He explained that despite challenges confronting the state in all fronts, he promises to remain firm, focused and steady in the discharge of his responsibility of providing quality leadership that would turn around the fortune of the state.
Earlier, the state Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers(NUT), Comrade Kefas U. Nanpan who said they were at the lodge to felicitate and congratulate him on his well- deserved elections, used the opportunity to reel out some of the challenges facing them to include, shortage of manpower, inadequate instructional materials, dilapidated classrooms, two to three months’ salary arrears among others.
Comrade Nanpan explained that they used the opportunity to intimate him of some of the problems bedevilling the education sector, most especially at the primary level so that “when you assume office, these challenges would not be new to you.
The NUT Chairman said “There are shortage of teachers in public primary schools as many teachers are retiring on a monthly basis without corresponding replacements or recruitment. The situation would have been worst if not for the ad-hoc teachers intervention undertaken by the current government”
He appealed to the governor -elect to look into the issue with a view to giving them the needed attention to improve the education standard in the state.
