By Abel zwanke, Lafia
The Chairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), Dr. Kassim Muhammad Kassim, has raised the alarm over the diversion of classroom furniture meant for public primary school pupils by some education secretaries and headmasters across the state.
Dr. Kassim, who expressed shock at the development, disclosed that furniture provided by the government to enhance learning conditions in public schools is being sold to private schools and individuals for personal use.
“Our pupils cannot be sitting on the floor in classrooms while education secretaries and headmasters divert furniture provided by government to private schools and homes,” he stated. “I have visited most schools and seen with my own eyes students sitting on the floor, yet records before me show that furniture was supplied to these schools. I will not allow that under my watch.”
The NSUBEB boss made this known during a meeting with education secretaries from the 13 local government areas and 18 development areas of the state held at the board’s headquarters in Lafia on Wednesday.
To curb the trend, Dr. Kassim revealed plans to partner with the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to visit suspected private schools and homes in possession of SUBEB furniture. He vowed that anyone found guilty would be made to reveal their sources.
In a related move to strengthen teaching capacity, the chairman directed the immediate redeployment of 1,300 administrative staff with teaching qualifications back to classrooms. This follows a review which showed that out of 3,422 administrative personnel in the system, many are qualified teachers occupying non-teaching roles.
“There is no reason why government should be running short of teachers while administrative departments are filled with qualified teachers doing supervisory work,” he said. “I have directed that 1,300 of them be deployed to rural schools with immediate effect.”
On recruitment, Dr. Kassim announced that Governor Abdullahi Sule has approved the employment of 4,800 qualified teachers under the initiative tagged “Recruitment of Teachers in Rural Areas.”
“Those applying must be ready to work in rural communities. No single teacher newly recruited will be posted to urban areas,” he emphasized. “My agenda is to revive rural schools and make them attractive to parents in remote communities.”
He warned education secretaries against illegal deductions from teachers’ salaries, stating that any deduction not authorized by the board would not be tolerated.
“No education secretary should make illegal deductions from teachers’ salaries except on disciplinary grounds and with the board’s knowledge. These unnecessary deductions must stop immediately,” he said.
Dr. Kassim also banned the allocation of school lands to small-scale businesses without prior approval from the board.
“Some people are already claiming school lands on that basis. That must stop,” he said.
He further disclosed plans to establish a maintenance unit in every local government to safeguard public school infrastructure and warned contractors against substandard jobs.
“We can’t renovate a school this year and return to fix the same structure next year. If a contractor delivers poor work, their payment will be withheld, and the contract possibly revoked,” he warned.
He reiterated his resolve to reform the basic education sub-sector in the state.
“I was appointed by the Governor to change the narrative in the education sub-sector, and I am more than determined to achieve my mandate, even if it means stepping on people’s toes,” Dr. Kassim said.
