By Archibong Jeremiah
Schools in Cross River State have been asked to resume with immediate effect, from Tuesday 30th September 2014 by both the state government and the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT Cross River State Council, Comrade Eyo-Nsa Itam made this known to CrossRiverWatch on a phone in Calabar.
According to the NUT Chairman “Government has given school heads ten thousand to buy buckets with taps to enable the children have running water”.
He revealed that it was settled that “In primary schools they are told to use their imprest of N4, 500 to buy the buckets with tap, State Universal Primary Education Board, SUPEB will split the money by paying half of the four thousand five hundred naira”.
Continuing, Eyo-Nsa maintained that “Each child is to pay N200 in two installments; first term and second term that’s the parents’ contribution through Parent Teachers Association, PTA for the purchase of thermometer and other items”.
Justifying why secondary schools are receiving ten thousand and primary four thousand five hundred, he said: “Secondary schools pay fees: there is a certain development fee charged from where government have released ten thousand to each school, primary schools nearly don’t pay fees which is why they are asked to forgo their imprest of four thousand five hundred naira for the purchase of the bucket and parents will buy the thermometer”.
However he denies having knowledge about any funding made available to the state government by the federal government or international agency.
Mr. Itam lauded his comrades for being by his side as he speaks their mind not minding the intimidation, threats of being sacked and others.
He urged teachers in training not to see their move as detrimental but as an instrumental one which they will one day meet in another light.
In a related development, the Cross River State Government in a press release has also called on teachers and students in the state to resume school as arrangements have been concluded to provide the necessary requirements to contain the Ebola Virus in schools across the state.
It will be recalled that, last week the NUT had asked teachers in the state to ignore the resumption date announced by government and proceed on an indefinite strike until government is able to provide the necessary health facilities and environment to be able to combat the dreaded Ebola Virus in schools across the state.
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