The Cross River State Ministry of Education has refuted a recent claim by Punch newspaper that the state is one of 18 states that has not employed teachers since 2018.
On July 7, 2024, Punch Online published an article titled “Teacher Shortage: 18 States Fail to Recruit Teachers in Five Years,” citing data from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) which listed states including Abia, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Kogi, Ogun, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, and Zamfara as not conducting teacher recruitment between 2018 and 2022.
During a visit to the Education Commissioner’s office by journalists, Senator Stephen Odey clarified that the assertion was incorrect and did not accurately reflect the continuous recruitment initiatives of the Cross River State government for teachers.
Odey, who previously served as the chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), highlighted that during his tenure in 2019, he successfully recruited a total of 3,000 new teachers into the state education system.
He urged media organizations to prioritize accuracy and fairness in their reporting, cautioning that spreading false information could hinder advancements in the education sector.
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He stated, “There was no proper research before that publication. When I was SUBEB chairman in 2019, I recruited 500 teachers initially and another 2,500 teachers later that year.
So, the report by Punch is incorrect. Cross River should not have been included among states that haven’t recruited teachers since 2018. We acknowledge the shortage due to retirements, and recruiting is essential to addressing our classroom needs.”
“I also appeal to His Excellency to approve further recruitment so we can initiate interviews promptly,” he added. “The governor is passionate about education, and we in the Ministry of Education are committed to fulfilling his mandate.”
Archibong Bassey, Chairman of the Cross River State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, assured the commissioner of improved synergy and support to ensure the ministry’s objectives are met.