I operate Buni Yadi unity school from Damaturu – Principal
How are you coping with insecurity in Buni Yadi?I was recently posted to the college. I was posted at the midst of insurgency but despite that, I am doing my work as scheduled. But presently, Buni Yadi is no longer a safe place where a civil servant can work, everybody knows that. Anybody identified to […]
How are you coping with insecurity in Buni Yadi?
I was recently posted to the college. I was posted at the midst of insurgency but despite that, I am doing my work as scheduled. But presently, Buni Yadi is no longer a safe place where a civil servant can work, everybody knows that. Anybody identified to be a government official will be dealt with by the insurgents. They kill anybody that is identified as civil servant. So because of the insecurity there, my office has been relocated to the federal secretariat in Damaturu. I moved there with few personnel. But sincerely speaking, there is nobody in the Federal Government College Buni Yadi presently because the entire town was not safe. Part of the town was destroyed and the insurgents have taken over the town. The village head and other occupants of the town have fled for their dear lives. So because of this, we cannot stay in the school rather, we operate from Damaturu.
Where are the students?
Our students have been sent to other Federal Government Colleges in Borno, Yobe and Bauchi states. They were sent there even before I reported to the school as the new principal. In fact, when I reported to the school, the students were on holiday so I didn’t even meet them there. And as you know, the unity schools called off their strike recently. I am planning to visit my students in Yobe, Borno and Bauchi states because I am not happy with the development. How can someone operate a school without interacting with students and teachers? I think it doesn’t make any sense but obviously I cannot do anything about it. But I can assure you that the students are currently studying comfortably in other colleges, nothing is affecting their studies. The only thing is that they are not in their original school which is Federal Government College Buni Yadi but as soon as the situation is contained, the students will return to their school.
How are you operating as a principal?
I am operating the school from Damaturu because my office was relocated to the Federal Secretariat in Damaturu. So I was there with some few personnel that are helping me. But honestly, I am not enjoying the work in that way. Up till this time, I have not taken over the school officially because my predecessor did not handover the school to me. When I reported to the school I did not meet the former principal. So because of that I went back to the federal ministry of education in Abuja and complained. A director in the ministry said I will be given a letter to take to the Yobe State governor but because the minister was not available then, the director said I should wait until the minister comes back. And when I collected the letter, I took it to Yobe State Ministry of Education for endorsement but, unfortunately, both the governor and the commissioner of education were not around at that time so nobody can endorse the letter for me.
So the only option I had at that time was to see the PTA chairman of the school to help me to give the letter to the state governor.
However, the PTA chairman advised me to take it to the permanent secretary of ministry of education. But when I took the letter to him, he said I should wait until the commissioner returns. And the issue here is that the response wasn’t positive from both sides.
What is the condition of the school?
Honestly, I don’t know because I have not been there for quite a long time and nobody can tell me about the condition of the school because people have fled the town. I don’t know whether the insurgents have burnt the school or not. I only went there once and since my first visit I did not go back there because of the Boko Haram crisis. Until peace is restored to the area and the town reclaimed by the government forces, no one can tell about the condition of the college. We are only praying that nothing happens to the school.
How did the strike affect the academic activities at unity schools?
It has caused a serious setback because the students have spent days at home doing nothing while their counterparts in the private schools and other public schools have gone far in their studies. Like any other strike, the entire academic activities were paralysed during the strike but we thank God the teachers have suspended the strike and students are expected to resume very soon.
How can the government prevent future strike by the unity schools?
Federal and states governments should put their heads together and improve the wellbeing of teachers. As saying goes, ‘a hungry man is an angry man,’ there is no way these people can teach with an empty stomach. So government should look into their problems with all seriousness. Their salaries should be increased and all their outstanding entitlements be paid to them. If government can do that, I am sure they will improve their service delivery. They are the backbone of the education sector so there is no way government can neglect them or turns its head away from their welfare. In fact, in my own opinion, the teachers that are teaching in the crisis ridden states such as Yobe, Borno and Adamawa, should be given special attention by the government. They should be given special allowances for their sacrifice because not everybody can go there and teach. For the affected state governments, I am calling on them to assist the management of any federal government schools in their domains because they are rendering services to their people and, hence, they are partners in progress. If states like Borno, Yobe and Adamawa can do that, I am sure it will help unity schools in such states in no small measures. The teachers’ grievances were centred on money. They want their promotion allowances to be paid by the government. They have alleged that some of them were promoted twice without any monetary benefits attached to those promotions. So it is very painful to promote civil servant, but deny him financial benefits. I think the decision taken by the government to settle their entitlements is a positive one. And if government will maintain the tempo of improving the wellbeing of the teachers, I am sure the teachers will not embark on any strike again, rather, they will improve in their services.
What call do you have for the teachers?
My call to them is for them to double their commitments in discharging their duties. While government is willing to improve their wellbeing, they should know that the government, parents and the students as well will expect improvements in their delivery. So they should teach well and consider their students. Since government has done its own part, they, too, should reciprocate the gesture by paying more attention to their duty.