FCTA urged to establish funding mechanism for primary education

The Chairman of the Confederation of the Parents Teachers Association (CPTA), Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chapter, Mallam Tanko S. Bello, has advised the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to establish a sustainable funding mechanism for primary education in the territory in order to permanently end the reoccurring teachers strike.

Bello, in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, also suggested the need for the FCT administration to convey an urgent stakeholders meeting with the labour unions, comprised of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), PTA and the six area council chairmen to find a lasting solution to the teachers welfare.

He said the reoccurring primary and secondary school teachers strike has become an annual embarrassment adding that Abuja, which hosts the nation’s capital should always lead by example by prioritizing teachers welfare.

“Like last year, our children stayed at home for several months due to a similar strike. This year, history repeated itself again as our children were forced to roam about the streets, hawking, and being exposed to vices while their counterparts in private schools are in class learning,”the statement said.

He noted that the academic calendar has completely remained disrupted, while the quality of education has continued to fall, which he said has psychologically traumatised parents and their children.

“We believe that the education of FCT children should not be toyed with because an idle mind is a devil workshop. And that is why the association is also advising the FCT administration to ensure teachers welfare is prioritized,” he added.