By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia, July 1, 2015
The Abia Government has announced a statewide enforcement of discipline in public schools and the introduction of biometric attendance systems to monitor teachers’ presence and punctuality.
Executive Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Mrs. Lydia Onuoha made this known on Tuesday during a press briefing, in Umuahia.
Onuoha highlighted government’s commitment to its comprehensive statewide monitoring strategy in partnership with Local Government Education Authorities and School-Based Management Committees.
She said that the key elements of the statewide monitoring exercise include the introduction of biometric attendance systems in schools to track teachers’ daily presence and punctuality.
She also said that quality assurance and monitoring teams would be mobilised to carry out unannounced visits and audits in public primary and junior secondary schools.
Onuoha further said that head teachers would now be required to submit monthly attendance reports to their respective Local Government Education Authorities and ASUBEB for compliance checks and review.
She issued a strong warning to public school teachers against all forms of misconduct, dereliction of duty, and absenteeism, stating that such actions would now attract serious consequences.
Onuoha further expressed displeasure over the growing trend of irregular attendance among teachers despite the present administration’s efforts to improve their welfare.
She emphasised that erring teachers would face disciplinary measures such as queries, suspension, or outright dismissal, as provided in the Public Service Rules and the Teachers’ Code of Conduct.
“The full weight of public service rules shall be invoked where necessary. The government will act in the best interest of our children and the future of our state,” she said.
The ASUBEB chairman described the trend as not only unethical but also a betrayal of the trust placed on educators to nurture and build the next generation.
Onuoha commended the present administration’s commitment to teachers’ welfare, noting that salaries are now paid promptly and consistently without delays.
She further highlighted that long-overdue promotions had been approved, leave allowances paid, and the 27.5 per cent Teachers’ Special Salary had been fully actualised.
“Over 20per cent of the 2025 Abia State budget is committed to education which is one of the highest budgetary allocations to the sector in the country,” Onuoha added.
She urged teachers and all education stakeholders to support the government’s vision of a “New Abia where education is free, impactful, and transformative.
“We’re not just building more classrooms; we are committed to staffing them with qualified, responsible, and motivated teachers,” she stated.
Onuoha called on teachers to reciprocate the government’s goodwill by being professionally present, morally upright, and committed to their duties.
She commended Gov. Alex Otti for his sincere and sustained investments in the education sector across the state and encouraged parents and members of the public to report any misconduct by school staff using the Board’s customer care line: 07076904864.
