BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU
The Delta State Government has announced its readiness to sanction education officers, particularly those on Grade Level 15 and 16, who refuse to engage in active teaching.
This was issued by the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu in Asaba during a meeting with members of Delta North Education Monitoring Team.
According to her, the decision was meant to address the declining interest in teaching among high-ranking officers, especially those on vice principal cadre, noting that such senior officers have abandoned their core responsibility, which is teaching.
Speaking further, Ezewu said that the state government will not tolerate such negligence of duty. “We have observed a disturbing trend where experienced officers at Grade Level 15 and 16 focus solely on administrative work, leaving classrooms unattended to. This is unacceptable. Any officer who refuses to teach will face disciplinary action, including suspension or other sanctions,” she warned.
Ezewu noted that the government’s decision follows growing complaints from students, parents, and education stakeholders about inadequate teacher service delivery and the overall quality of education in schools around the state.
With the directive, such administrative officers will be required to dedicate much of their time to classroom teaching, ensuring that students benefit from their experience.
Ezewu reiterated that the state government has taken steps to support officers in balancing their administrative and teaching duties. Meanwhile, enforcement of the directive is expected to begin immediately, with monitoring teams deployed to local governments to ensure compliance.
Reacting to the decision, the monitoring team praised the move, arguing that it would help bridge the teaching gap and improve learning outcomes.
