The National Association of Parents-Teachers Association of Nigeria has rejected the Federal Government’s policies on education, especially the elongation of service years for teachers and payment of stipends to students studying education in public higher institutions.
The National Publicity Secretary of NAPTAN, Dr Ekundayo Ademola, in a statement on Sunday, warned the government not to politicise education.
According to the statement, payment of N75, 000 and N50,000 to students studying education in universities and NCE is ill-conceived and uncalled for.
He described the announcement of a new salary scale for teachers, as well as the elongation of years of service for them from 60 to 65 years by the Federal Government as a ‘Greek gift.’
The statement read in part, “We think that the promise by the government that has refused to diligently implement N30,000 minimum wage to increase salary for teachers is nothing but deceit.
“If one may ask, how many states are, in truth paying N30,000 minimum wage to workers? Asking the states to start paying with a special scale to teachers, when minimum wage of N30,000 is not dutifully given to them, will lead to industrial unrest.
“We demand that Federal Government and states should pay N30,000 minimum wage to teachers first before considering special scale for teachers.
“Elongation of service year from 60 to 65 years is also odd, in a situation the country is presently is. Many education graduates are seeking unemployment.
Keeping those that are supposed to rest in service till 65 is nothing but a misplaced priority.”
The association also said the payment of N75, 000 and N50,000 to students studying education in universities and NCE was ill-conceived, saying the amount was higher than minimum wage.
It added, “Is the Federal Government aware that the number of students studying education-related courses is in multiple thousands?
“Also, after being paid in school, do we have job placements waiting for them? Is there a plan for several unemployed graduates and NCE holders that read education-related courses?”
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