Governor Soludo and the sacked, 1,000 teachers

Professor Chukwuma Soludo is a teacher and is eminently qualified to

rule on matters concerning education.

However, I feel that rather than sacking a whopping

1,000 PTA teachers, he should screen them to weed unsuitable material.

The way I see it is that no Principal will deliberately employ an unqualified teacher and pay him with funds from PTA.

It is possible their employment was hazy. The way to go is do it right, not by sacking them but reviewing the process.

These teachers are like contract staff who have been converted to permanent staff.

Already they have an edge over freshers. They have sweated with regular teachers for less pay. Having been regularised, they would shout hosanna but now their joy has been short-lived.

In the short run, the educational system would suffer from this decision but on the long run, the system would stabilize.

However, in this short run, what becomes of the students?

Time waits for no man and given, Government bureaucracy, the recruitment exercise may last longer than necessary.

Having taken the decision, pending the conclusion of the recruitment exercise, the schools should be allowed to return the teachers to their previous contract, so as not to leave the students unattended to.

This too is fraught with challenges. Are the PTA teachers willing to accept the decision of the Government? If yes, would they be willing to give their best as PTA teachers after the sack?

Whichever way, time waits for no man and the welfare of the pupils should be paramount.