Ekiti state government through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has suspended the head teacher of Elemi Community N/P School, Ado Ekiti, Mrs. Olaniyi Olaniyi over allegations of misconduct.
It was gathered that the headteacher and Chief Yusuf Ibrahim under the School Based Management Committee signed a letter dated October 25, 2024, requesting donations from organizations and the public for construction of classrooms in the school which is dilapidated and unconducive for learning.
Part of the letter reads, “Recently, inspectors from Abuja came to our school for inspection to see the area where they can help or assist our school. In this process, they later decided to help us renovate the old (2) classrooms that almost fell into ruin and disuse.
” And before they can do that for us, the school must have a certain amount of money which they will add to before it can happen. We were given just two to three weeks to do that and if we failed they would give the project to another school which we don’t pray to happen.
” Since the school is not financially strong to get such a huge amount this is why we are asking for financial support from individual/community leaders/groups/churches/ associations in this community in making the project happen.
” As to this, your support will be highly appreciated and it will help us in making the project come to reality. This project will give more room for effective teaching and a conducive environment for both pupils and teachers in this school.”
But the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Professor Femi Akinwumi in a statement said the headteacher was suspended over allegations of breaching extant rules of the board.
The statement reads, “The suspended Head Teacher, Mrs Catherine Olaniyi who was indicted for writing an inflammatory letter to the public, demanding for unauthorised financial assistance towards implementation of an SBMC-SIP project in her school was ordered to handover all government documents in her possession to the most senior assistant Head Teacher in the school with immediate effect, pending further determination of her case.”
Professor Akinwumi said the board has zero tolerance for anything that could tarnish the good reputation of the state government, stressing that the state Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji is working round the clock to provide an enabling teaching/learning environment in the basic education sector.
He re-echoed the free education policy of the state government, adding that government would continue to clamp down on perpetrators of fraudulent activities in public schools.
The Chairman noted that the suspensions would serve as a deterrent to other staff, warning that the board would never condone any act of indiscipline among the SUBEB workforce.
Similarly, the board announced the indefinite suspension of the Education Secretary of Ikere Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Mr Gbenro Buraimoh.
According to the SUBEB Boss, the Education Secretary was accused of violating the extant rules of the board by deliberately delaying official matters, and irregular appointment of Teachers of junior ranks into managerial duty posts in schools.
He was also accused of granting leave of absence to teachers without recourse to the board and postings of high number of teachers to schools with low pupil enrollment in farmsteads thereby leading to underutilisation of staff.
The Board directed the Education Secretary to hand over to Dr. Akande Oluwafemi of the Quality Assurance Department of the Board who is to take over as Acting Education Secretary with immediate effect.
The affected education secretary was also ordered to hand over all government properties in his possession to the Head of Administration in the LGEA.
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