Charles Esther
The Katsina State Government has suspended the salaries of at least 100 teachers who abandoned their duty posts without providing any explanations.
This was confirmed by the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hajiya Zainab Musawa, in Katsina on Wednesday during the launch of a joint education sector coordination committee.
Purpose of the Committee
The committee, unveiled by the ministry in partnership with UNICEF, aims to improve education policy formulation and implementation across the state.
The initiative is designed to ensure better coordination among stakeholders and address persistent challenges in the education sector.
Concerns Over Teacher Absenteeism
The commissioner voiced strong concerns about the conduct of some educators, emphasizing that such behavior would not be tolerated by the government or its partners.
“I have visited about 20 schools in Katsina and there is no school where I found 60 per cent of the teachers present,” she noted.
Example of Abandoned Duty
Musawa highlighted a case of a state-employed teacher who abandoned his assigned school, relocated to another state, continued working there, and collected his Katsina State salary simultaneously.
The commissioner stressed that this teacher has been absent from his post for two years, with ample evidence available to substantiate the claim.
Government’s Stance
The Katsina State Government reaffirmed its commitment to addressing absenteeism, ensuring that teachers fulfill their responsibilities, and maintaining the quality of education across the state.
