Parents accuse teacher of extortion, absenteeism at Nasarawa nomadic school

Parents in Wuro Auta, Gitata area of Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, have accused teachers at the Wuro Nomadic School of absenteeism and extortion.

The parents, under the aegis of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), said teaching staff had been inadequate in the school despite serving more than 200 children from different Fulani settlements in the area.

The PTA chairman, Saleh Isah, alleged that the head teacher, who was posted to the school in March, had not visited the school since his posting.

Mr Isah claimed that instead of reporting to the school, the head teacher had repeatedly called him to demand money.

“He will call and ask me to send him money, which I refused because he has never come to teach our children,” he alleged.

Mr Isah said the school was built through community efforts, but the government had failed to provide adequate learning materials and teachers.

According to him, the situation worsened after the previous teacher was transferred, with the replacement allegedly refusing to report for duty.

“Since the last teacher was transferred, the present one has refused to come.

“No government officials have come despite several complaints to the authorities in the Panda Development Area,” Mr Isah alleged.

Reacting to the allegations, the supervisor in charge of the area, Joseph Auta, promised to intervene and ensure that the matter was investigated and addressed.

Mr Auta also appealed to Governor Abdullahi Sule to recruit more teachers for schools in the area, which he said were experiencing serious shortages.

Also speaking, Kande Adamu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Nomadic Education, said the state government would invite the teachers involved in the allegations and investigate the matter.

Mrs Adamu promised that anyone found culpable would be sanctioned, adding that the administration of Governor Sule was committed to ensuring access to education for all.

She said the government was also working to restore sanity and improve the standard of education in nomadic communities across the state.