The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC) Umuahia, has appealed to the federal government to kindly absorb over 80 teachers currently under the payroll of the Association.
The Association is equally urging the federal government to as a matter of urgency slash fees payable by parents in view of the current economic crunch to enable them meet up with other responsibilities.
Speaking with Newsmen in his office, Chairman of the PTA, Adm. Agomoh Chuka, appealed to the federal government to come to their aid and relieve them of the burden of paying the support staff hired by the Association to assist teachers due to paucity of tutorial staff in various science subjects.
“Sometime in the past, the PTA held a meeting wherein we agreed that we need to augment teachers of science subjects due to lack of sufficient teachers.
“We have over 80 staff that are on the payroll of the PTA. We pay them salary stipends through the meagre resources and levies we contribute which is very small. When we contribute it, we use it to support the school and pay these teachers who we employed in agreement with the school Management.
“The PTA wage bill is up to two million naira every month and it is not enough to shoulder these responsibilities so we are appealing to the federal government to relieve us of the burden of paying the support staff by absorbing them into the system.
“We have written letters to the federal Ministry of Education to act on this and come to our aid”, Agomoh said.
He however stated that although the federal government in 2019 absorbed about 7 support staff of the school, the said staff are yet to be regularised adding that the school has been saddled with the responsibility of paying their salaries.
While calling on the federal government to address the disparity in Unity Schools’ cut off marks which fosters mediocrity instead of Academic excellence, Agomoh also urged the government to create more Unity Schools across the South East as is the case with other geo- political zones adding that the move will bring the zone at par with other zones of the federation.
On the issue of compliance to laid down Covid-19 protocols by the school, Agomoh said there is no cause for alarm as the school Management ably lead by the Principal, Mrs. Idika Anthonia has instilled regulations such as compulsory use of face masks, provision of temperature checks, hand washing facilities, sick bay as well as ensured spacing among students to curtail any occurrence of the virus.
Meanwhile, Some of students interviewed by National Ambassador including Miss Chukwuka Ezinne JSS3D, Ewurum Theresa JSS3C, Okwudiri Chidunga JSS3C and Ibekwe Favour JSS3F said they are aware of the second wave of Covid19 pandemic and at such are keeping to the rules so as to guide against the spread of the virus.
They said that precautionary measures have been put in place by the school management to ensure the environment is safe for them to learn pointing out that they at they have been taught on how to observe Covid19 protocols by the school management such as wearing of face masks, washing of hands,use of sanitizer as well as social distancing in classes, hostels and dining room.
One of the teachers,Ugoeze Amaukwu Bridget, said that the school is 100 percent compliant in readiness for the second wave of Covid19 pandemic pointing out that the school carried out Temperature checks on students at entry point and has treatment centre for suspected cases with strick enforcement of the regulations to ensure safety of students, teachers and visitors alike.
On their part, some parents including Mr. Eluwa Samuel and Mrs Mgbengasa Oluomachi applauded the satisfactory compliance to covid 19 protocols put in place by the school Management adding that they are satisfied.
