By Ibrahim M Abdullah
(Sundiata Post) – Education is said to be the instrument of societal positive change, it us a tool used in learning and disseminating the learned, imperative is the human Element involved in the process, hence, the Teacher.
A teacher is that person who had dedicated his life long in learning and subsequently teaching the pupils/students.
The pivotal role of a Teacher in Nation/State building and National Development cannot be easily washed away. The future of a child/ward and the society at large can only be achieved if the welfare of teachers is guaranteed and accorded the required priority by government and other concerned authorities. Teachers play an extraordinary role in the lives of children, their welfare, quality development and general condition of learning must not be considered.
The importance of a teacher in the development of the society cannot be underestimated as their influence can and will stretch on long after the final well-being beyond the walls of the school. The role of a teacher is complex one, far beyond what people can assume as just someone who teaches what has been programmed in the curriculum
Along that line of reasoning Kastsina state Governor Aminu Bello Masari had in the last three years come up with ways and modaliities of arresting the ugly trend of not offering teachers welfare.
The advancement of an employee from one job position to another position that has higher salary range, higher level job responsibilities is promotion. It takes a lot to be promoted. Promotion encourages teachers to work harder and also gives room for recruiting deserved teachers. Welfare benefits are basically identical, some undertaken by separate organizations and some handeled by agencies.
Teachers are entitled to some benefits as public housing, privilege to use of teachers hostel, low interest housing loans, subsidy for study leave abroad, subsidy for retirement, etc. The funds required to finance the above welfare benefits mainly come from contributions of of the PTA’s, allocation of individuals, government and private enterprises
Katsina State teachers service Board was established for recruiting staff, promoting and taking care of their welfare. The board also advice the ministry of education on facilitating the development of realistic policies on education. Also compile list of staff and forward same to the ministry for posting as may be appropriate.
When the administration came on board, there were fewer of left over promotion, under the leadership of Gov. Aminu Bello Masari approval for their promotion was given. The board has so far promoted 1,017 in 2015 and 1,577 in 2016, the promotion exercise for 2017 has commenced. They happen to promote 2,423 teaching staff. Gov. Masari administration in 2016 also approved the deployment of 721 number of staff from SUBEB especially underlying graduates and HND holders.
Katsina media and publicity gathered that the present administration approved many projects and programmes in order to equip the states tertiary institution with adequate staff as well as enhance their welfare for positive productivity. Some of the approved include:
Migration Contiss15 and 65 years retirering age for academic staff of the states tertiary institution.
Approved of the replacement of 22 number of staff of the same institution who left services of the institution either by death or retirement
Approval of replacement of 66 number of academic and non academic staff of polytechnic
Approved the release of N48,788,504.0012.5 percent balance to Umaru Musa Yar’adua university
Release of N16,506,283.40 to Hassan Usman Katsina polytechnic for payment of the official staff who are on fellowship study within and outside the country
The administration also provided financial assistance to individuals of Katsina State indigenes and association for the phd, master degree and undergraduate programmes.