Enugu Governor threatens mass transfer of teachers

Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has threatened a massive transfer of teachers from urban to rural areas in the state. Speaking at a delegates’ conference of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Enugu State wing, in Enugu, Mr. Chime said teachers had been over-concentrated in urban schools. He said that although the state had more than 25,000 teachers in primary and secondary schools, there were fewer teachers in rural schools than urban ones. Mr. Chime, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Chris Okoro, said most teachers were not interested in teaching in the rural areas. He said the number of teachers in Nsukka was too much for the schools in the town, while the reverse was the case in the rural areas. The governor also complained about the attitude of the teachers to work, saying that some of them go to work twice in a week, while some don’t even go to work for up to two weeks in a stretch. He urged the new leadership of the union to work with the ministry to enhance teaching and learning, especially in the rural areas. The National President of the Union, Michael Olukoya, said the union would promote peace, unity and understanding among its members to assist the government in achieving its programmes