…Gov. Oborevwori Mandate Is To Return Public Schools Glory, We Will Be Firm In Our Reforms- Mariere
By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
Following the stringent measures of regular screening embarked upon by the Delta State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to curb and fish out staff who are allegedly falsifying their age and results in the primary school sector and other ministries, a primary school teacher in one of the local government area in Delta State, have allegedly died out of fears and panic hearing the threat and decision given by the board Chairman Hon. Samuel Mariere, to retire older and sick teachers compulsorily.
At a screening exercise organised by the board recently, Mariere, had told the teachers that all older and sick teachers will be handed retirement letters to give way for young amd smart persons who are ICT oriented. Though a rational and right step in the eyes of the board, but the decision has sent panic as many teachers are now living in fear of losing their jobs and livelihood, leading to increased stress and anxiety among them.
SouthernVoicenews reliably gathered, that the deceased teacher passed on due to pressure and fear of facing retirement as a result of the board chairman disclosure during the screening. The teacher’s death has served as a tragic reminder of the impact that such decisions could have on the well-being and mental health of individuals in the primary school teaching profession.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Delta State Universal Basic Education Board SUBEB, Hon. Samuel Mariere, in response to a terse message sent to him, he said; “I am not aware. But we need to be firm in our reforms. If not, we should forget about public schools. His Excellency’s mandate to us is to return our public schools to the state it was when all of us currently in Government was able to pass through it. You can not make an omelette with breaking eggs”.
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Mariere in a video obtained by SouthernVoicenews Online, confirmed that any Head Teacher who is above 62 years of age will be relieved of his or her position for a smarter teacher. This he said will enable the system run in an astronomic speed in view of the computers and machines that will be supplied to schools.
Sources confirmed that the deceased teacher has been complaining of having issues with her First School Leaving Certificate also known as Primary Six Result. A requirement that was included in the recent screening exercise. Another source confide in our Correspondents that deceased on hearing the devastating announcement of compulsory retirement by the Samuel Mariere led SUBEB, her blood pressure unfortunately hits the red bar thereby leading to her demise.
“It is a pity anyways. She has been so apprehensive since we began the screening because she said she couldn’t get her First School Leaving Certificate or something, but I do not know if she had other issues, but we all knew that she was full of panic and fears especially on hearing about the compulsory retirement for older and sick teachers”.
While reform of the system is a welcome development, it is also important for education authorities to consider the welfare of their staff and to handle such sensitive issues of compulsory retirement with competence. Threatening older and sick teachers with retirement is not only cruel but also irresponsible, as it can have serious consequences on the physical and mental health of those that will be affected as there are other ways they can be approach and pampered into retirement without hurting their physical and mental health.
However incompetence and mediocrity must not be entertained, but ket it be in note that teachers play a vital role in shaping the future of our society, and it is crucial that they are treated with respect and dignity. The Hon. Mariere led State Universal Basic Education Board education should ensure that they are not causing harm to their staff members. The well-being of teachers should always be a top priority, and actions that put their health and livelihood at risk should be avoided at all costs even as the fraudulent ones are shown the way out.