Delta State Local Government Joint Account Committee (JAC), Wednesday, approved Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s decision on the career progression of primary school graduate teachers in the state from Grade Level 14 to Grade Level 17.
The council chairmen were unanimous in their approval of the Governor’s decision during their JAC meeting held in Asaba which was attended by the Commissioner for Primary Education, Mrs Rose Ezewu; the Commissioner for the Directorate Local Government Affairs, Hon. Kelly Penawou and the Chairman, Delta State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Samuel Mariere among other stakeholders.
Speaking shortly after the Joint Allocation Committee (JAC) meeting, the Commissioner for Primary Education, Mrs Rose Ezewu said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s landmark approval for the elevation of primary school teachers to Grade Level 17 was a major boost to the teaching profession at the state’s basic education sector.
Ezewu said the governor’s approval had renewed the confidence of primary school teachers and demonstrated the administration’s commitment to improving their welfare.
She noted that the decision would encourage more qualified professionals to seek employment in public primary schools, as teachers would no longer see their career progression ending at Grade Level 14.
The Commissioner praised Governor Oborevwori for fulfilling a long-standing aspiration of primary school teachers, stressing that the gesture was in line with the administration’s MORE Agenda of enhancing opportunities and improving public service delivery.
She, also, expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for the Directorate of Local Government Affairs, officials of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), local government council chairmen and other stakeholders for their support in making the initiative a reality.
According to her, the promotion would significantly improve teaching and learning in public primary schools by boosting teachers’ morale and strengthening their commitment to duty, adding that the policy had addressed concerns that had lingered for years and would inspire greater dedication among teachers across the state.
The commissioner, however, urged graduate teachers in primary schools to justify the confidence reposed in them by the governor through improved performance in their teaching profession.
She said the new career progression came with greater responsibility, emphasizing that teachers must prepare their schemes of work and lesson notes diligently and ensure effective knowledge transfer to pupils.
Quoting the popular saying that “to whom much is given, much is expected,” the commissioner called on teachers to eliminate complacency and embrace a renewed spirit of professionalism.
She expressed optimism that the enhanced motivation arising from the promotion to Grade Level 17 would translate into better learning outcomes for pupils and further strengthen the quality of primary education in Delta State.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for the Directorate of Local Government Affairs, Hon. Kelly Penawou commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his administration’s support for local governments in the state, saying that ongoing reforms had significantly improved the financial capacity of councils to pay salaries promptly and execute developmental projects.
He noted that many local government chairmen were now delivering roads, buildings and other infrastructure across their councils, attributing the achievements to reforms introduced from the Federal Government down to the state level which, he said, have enhanced funding and strengthened grassroots governance.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Delta State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Samuel Mariere said the career progression of graduate teachers in primary school by the governor was aimed at strengthening the state’s basic education sector and enhancing the quality of teaching in public primary schools.
Hon. Mariere explained that the National Certificate in Education (NCE) had traditionally been the minimum qualification for primary school teachers noting, however, that the need to improve learning outcomes made it necessary to encourage the recruitment and retention of graduate teachers, who will now enjoy career progression up to Grade Level 17 instead of the previous ceiling of Grade Level 14.
He lauded members of JAC for unanimously ratifying the governor’s decision on the career progression, describing the development as a demonstration of their shared commitment to educational development in Delta State.
According to him, the approval will not only motivate existing graduate teachers but also pave the way for the recruitment of more degree holders into the state’s primary school system, adding that the policy aligns with Governor Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda of improving education, even as he noted that quality basic education remains the foundation upon which the entire educational system is built.
In their separate remarks, the Delta State Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Chief Isaiah Esiovwa who doubles as the Chairman of Okpe Local Government Council; the NUT Chairman in the state, Comrade Poubeni Dickson and the Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Joseph Otirhue applauded governor Oborevwori for the landmark decision and the local government chairmen for unanimously ratifying the career progression.
They expressed confidence that the initiative would ultimately translate into better teaching standards and improved learning outcomes for pupils in Delta State’s public primary schools.
