FIRST CLASS JOKE

 

I was thinking this morning..... Early last week, news broke of how the Federal government, through the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Arc. Sonny Echonu said that only professional teachers with First Class certificates will be employed beginning from next year, 2021. As the news trended for days, I was overjoyed that for the first time our policy makers are thinking. I have always wondered why the government will be allowing lower second and third class graduates to be enjoying the excellent package they have for teachers in Nigeria. For once these first class graduates will enjoy what they truly deserve.

The enjoyment starts on the first day of work as a teacher. While personnel in multinational companies and banks join air-conditioned staff buses to work, the first class teacher will have to enjoy as he rides keke or Danfo to work. If he is broke, he will have to do first class trekking. To give you a flavour, only last week, a family member that has put in close to 30 years as a teacher was involved in an accident that dislocated her bones, while commuting to work. Why? She boarded a first class transportation, okada.

On getting to work, the first class teacher meets unbeatable first class facilities. First, chalk and blackboards are available instead of the electronic boards. To prepare lesson notes, he would've to rely on books bought 10 years ago, which are first class materials compared to a computer with high speed Internet.

At the end of the month, he will receive first class salary, which on average is between N15,000 and N70,000 per month for a public school teacher. Graduates who are placed at Level 8 and are teachers at Federal schools collect an average salary of N46,000 to N66,000, equivalent to what cleaners are paid in many multinational companies. Truly first class indeed.

The enjoyment doesn't end there. The first class teacher will be well compensated with an average accommodation allowance of about N7,000 per month. This will be more than enough to rent a house in first class residential areas like Ikoyi in Lagos or even outrightly purchase one if he saves it up for a year. It's very possible because a good three bedroom apartment in Ikoyi goes for about N150 million only. See groove for first class teachers.

After 30 to 40 years, they will be given first class treatment while queuing for their pensions. Unlike others that will have to queue in the sun, retired first class teachers will only queue in shaded areas. Isn't that wonderful?

No gain saying that the Nigeria educational system needs the best hands to improve the quality of our leaders of tomorrow, but if the conditions of service for teachers don't improve, they cannot attract the best hands. Employing first class graduates will only exposed them to first class suffering. Galatians 6:7 says 'Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.' You cannot make third class investment in education and expect to attract first class graduates. Warri man will say 'Odio-di' meaning 'nothing for you.'

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey