Indications emerged, during the week, that the need to integrate old and new hands was major reason Governor Simon Lalong decided to recall 2000 Plateau state primary school teachers. Blueprint gathered from source that though the 2000 teachers were laid-off since 2013, the need to bring them together to beef the teaching force of the state, became imperative. Plateau state chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), Prof. Mathew Sule, had while briefi ng journalists in Jos, “the aim is to improve the basic educational sector and address the shortfall of teachers in the State’s public primary schools”.
Sule said the teachers were disengaged by the immediate past administration for allegedly presenting unclassifi ed certifi cates, and for their failure to meet the minimum requirements stipulated by the government for teachers in the state. He listed those dismissed to include 519 teachers, 553 religious instructors and 945, who whose appointments were literarily terminated. “Five hundred and nineteen teachers dismissed for presenting unclassifi ed certifi cates during the last biometric capturing, were pardoned. “Th ose who have now obtained the minimum teaching qualifi cation of NCE out of this number will be recalled and re-engaged.
“Th ose that were unable to get additional qualifi cations, but had spent 10 years in the service will be retired with full benefi ts, “he said. Th e SUBEB chairman said that the board would also recall the 945 teachers, whose appointments were terminated for their inability to obtain NCE after the period of grace, but had now done so. He, however, noted that those that were unable, but have reached 10 years, would be retired with full benefi ts. Sule said that the board would extend same gesture to the 553 religious instructors, who were not captured during the biometric. He advised the aff ected teachers to reciprocate government’s gesture through renewed commitment to service.
