The Enugu state government has introduced measures that would enhance teaching and learning in her school system and give a boost to the education sector of the state economy.
Towards this end, the state Executive Council has approved the engagement of volunteer teachers to teach in primary and post primary schools, in addition to the two thousand teachers soon to be employed for secondary schools in the state.
The State Commissioner for Information Mr. Chuks Ugwuoke who announced this while briefing the press at the end of the state Executive Council meeting explained that two thousand of the volunteer teachers will be posted to primary schools while one thousand will go to the secondary section.
According to Mr. Ugwuoke teachers to be used for the short-term engagement teaching service included “retired but not tired” teachers and others who qualified as professional teachers in the state, on monthly stipends of eighteen thousand naira which amounts to fifty–four million naira per month.
The Information Commissioner also disclosed that the engaged volunteer teachers will serve in schools within their rural communities to fill gaps in some subject areas especially in primary and post primary schools in rural areas of the state.
Mr. Ugwuoke who was accompanied with his education and rural development counterpart, Dr. Simon Ortuanya and Dr. Eric Oluedo as well as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Mr. Victor Agbo said that engagement of the teachers was part of government youth empowerment, and poverty reduction and will also provide good breading ground for selection of future teachers in the state.
Also the council approved the institutionalization of Teachers’ Excellence award as a way of incentive to motivate the teachers and also recognize hard work and appreciate excellence in that sector of the economy. Some of the criteria for the exercise will include punctuality, attendance to classes keeping of school records, class teaching and control any others.
