Bizarre: Ghost Teachers on the Increase

It was recently discovered that about 753 teachers in Cross River State were sacked for having fake certificates. The most scary aspect is that another 700 ghost workers were discovered in the teaching service of the state. This was made known by the Chairman of Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Dr. Stephen Odey. He said 758 personnel had fake certificates while another 700 ghost teachers were discovered on the payroll of teachers. This is the same state where a Head Teacher found wanting during the audit exercise was demoted from a head teacher of grade level 13 to a security staff of grade level 4. The bizarre observation is that the 758 teachers with fake certificates were not sacked but demoted. This, according Dr. Odey was done because if 758 teachers were sacked and thrown back into the labour market, this will increase crime rate in the state and these teachers have families to feed. Based on this position, those who were not qualified to be teachers in the first place were given soft landing by keeping them in a place where they ‘faked’ certificate to get into. Imagine this, in only one state you have 753 teachers with fake certificates and another 700 ghost workers in the teaching service. Please how ‘real’ teachers are actually in that state?

This may not be breaking news but it is indeed trending. The rise in ghost workers in the teaching sector is a worrisome development. The output of the primary and post primary education handled by ghost and fake teachers reflects on University education. The quality of education at the primary and post-primary levels could be questioned with ghosts and quacks allowed to exist there. Meanwhile what do you think about the argument of the UBEB boss, Dr. Odey that the 758 teachers with fake certificates were not sacked but demoted in order not to throw them back into the labour market?