Unpaid salaries: Kwara NUT and the knotty issue

On Monday, September 8 most primary and secondary schools in Kwara State opened for another academic session.

Pupils/students are back in school after about 6weeks break(holiday), to continue their educational pursuit for a better future. As school re-opens, pupils/students and parents alike look forward to a 'smooth ride' through the session.

But, for pupils in public schools in the state this hope may as well be a mirage; the journey may be rough and tough if the threat by the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) is anything to go by.

The union had threatened to embark on strike if the issue of unpaid salaries of primary school teachers is not promptly addressed by the state government. It gave the state government 14-day ultimatum from September 3rd, to pay up the three months salaries owed this category of teachers.

The battle line seems to have been drawn with the state government stance on the issue raised by the teachers' union. The state government had insisted that the ultimatum issued by NUT is baseless and misplaced since salaries of primary school teachers are not within the purview of the state government.

Like the popular saying when two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers. The pupils will undoubtedly be at the receiving end of this face-off if the knotty issue is not resolved and urgently too. They will bear the brunt of the impasse.

It is common knowledge that, primary school teachers are responsible for ensuring children get the best start in life, by teaching them the core academic and social skills they will need in future. So what becomes of this core objective is left to be imagined when academic activities is disrupted incessantly. Therefore, the impact of NUT strike action on pupils' academic performance viz-a-viz standard of education cannot be undermined. It is known fact that when teachers down tool academic performances of affected students dwindles. When learning is suspended, the students reading abilities fall and even the knowledge acquired during the learning period is forgotten by the students.

In addition, there may be distort of school calender in the case of protracted industrial action by teachers.

Sadly, some pupils may be turned to the streets by their low income parents to hawk wares if the strike is prolonged while some may engage in juveline delinquencies out of idleness. It could even result in low enrolment when eventually the school ree-opens after the strike. This, one need not say does not augur well for our society.

However, one cannot underestimate the importance of teachers in the education sector. They are the pivot of the sector thus there's need for premium attention to be paid to their welfare. Long gone is the era when teachers were expected to receive their reward in heaven. Though, their services cannot be adequately compensated here on earth but what is due to teachers should be accorded them appropriately. Their reward should be here and now. They should not be allowed to go cap in hand before their needs are met. Their sweat should not dry before they are paid what is deserving of them.

They are the ones to whom we have entrusted the future of our children, therefore their welfare should be adequately captured in budgets in order for them to discharge their responsibilities effectively and efficiently too.

Nonetheless, I do not subscribe to strike as means to press home demands, NUT should devise means of resolving aggrieved issues. Strike should be the last resort.

It however behoves on the state government to see to the welfare of all categories of state workers in order to prove wrong the allegation of discrimination as made by the state NUT. The Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed should be seen to walk its talk in this area. The state government must however be commended for the payment of all salary arrears of core civil servants as promised.

Understandably, the state has been going through tough times given the harsh economic realities occasioned by sustained shortfall in the Federal Allocation.

Expectedly, the state government should step in to save the situation. It would be disastrous if there is a brain drain in our education sector at a time like this when the sector is taking shape. It would do the sector no good if good hands leave for the private schools or greener pastures.

The ongoing impasse should be resolved amicably in the interest of the pupils. The future of the children is important. It is in the interest of the students that the teachers should not embark on strike. Disruption in academic programme owing to strike, as observed by an educationist, breeds disappointment, frustration, emotional and psychological trauma, unpreparedness on the part of the students and lack of motivation. Since education is the bedrock of development of any society, government should adequately address issues that could prove as clog in the wheels of educational development. It is worth stressing that any society with a poor education system is heading towards a bleak future.

For the Every Child Count education policy to have a meaning, government must ensure that the variables and components to make unfettered access to education by every child is paid deserved attention.

It must however be noted that most strike can be averted if parties involved build a very good relationship.

The state government should identify factors that often lead to strike by teachers and should address it.

#standpoint