Alhaji Abubakar Buda-Amanawa, Chairman, School-Based Management Committee (SBMC), Dange- Shuni Local Government Area, Sokoto State, has appealed for enhanced salary package for primary school teachers.
Buda-Amanawa made the appeal during an education stakeholders’ interactive meeting on Tuesday in Dange-Shuni Local Government Area.
The meeting reviewed UNICEF’s educational intervention project tagged ” REACH Programme ”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the participants discussed impacts on the project components; Girls for Girls (G4G) initiative, Vocational Skills, Digital Literacy and Adolescent transition schemes under the concluded programme.
The SBMC chairman said that teachers especially in rural areas were in pathetic situations in recognition of the present economic hardship following the removal of fuel subsidy and increased prices of commodities.
He described quality primary education as a pillar of education in human development, stressing the need for the government to enhance teachers and allied workers remuneration across the state.
Buda-Amanawa said that primary school teachers were not receiving remuneration equivalent to those working in secondary and tertiary institutions.
He emphasised that graduates working under state secondary schools and other places should be placed on the same salary to their counterparts working at the primary school level.
According to him, the efforts would reduce pressure of seeking transfers or leaving the primary school service to other areas as well as enhance the teachers concentration at the primary school level.
Buda-Amanawa commended UNICEF for its interventions in the education sector which have brought positive changes to the community and the state at large.
The chairman highlighted that significant reduction in out-of-school children, retention and transition to higher classes were ensured through the interventions, pledging support to the programme.
Also speaking, Alhaji Sanusi Marafan-Dange, commended UNICEF’s efforts, saying the programme had promoted understanding, unity and cooperation among the people.
Marafan-Dange promised sustained support to ensure that the children receive the best qualitative education.
A teacher, Malama Kulu Umar, said the intervention had significantly improved girls’ education and sanitation, equipping them with new skills, boosting their confidence and eagerness to learn.
Umar said that with the support, parents began to understand the advantages of allowing the girl-child to further her education up to the secondary and tertiary levels by showcasing disadvantages of early marriages in the society.
According to her, some talented girls played as role models through allowing them to participate at the outside-school-programmes and other activities that attract more girls to enrol in and stay in schools.
Mr Moses Akpe, the UNICEF’s representative at the meeting reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all children have access to quality education
Akpe added that the partnership with the state government and the stakeholders was making impacts on the children’s lives and helped them to reach their full potential.
Some benefiting students A’isha Mustapha and Asma’u Muhammad, thanked UNICEF for changing their lives, giving them a voice and confidence.
They expressed appreciation for being empowered to realise their dreams through menstrual hygiene management, vocational, and leadership skills.
NAN also reports that the REACH programme promotes students retention and completion, empowered the girls with vocational skills, menstrual hygiene, discourages hawking and other issues. (NAN)
