HND teachers in Lagos protest lack of promotion

Kunle Awosiyan, Lagos - 08.06.2009

CRISIS may be brewing in Lagos State public primary and secondary schools as teachers with Higher National Diploma (HND) are set to down tools due to the failure of the state government to promote them.

This is happening barely two months after teachers in the state called off a strike over non-implementation of the Teachers Salary Structure.

A group of HND teachers in Lagos public schools had visited the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, at the weekend, alleging the state government of discriminating against them.

The teachers, who refused to mention their names, said that the state government had not promoted them in the last 10 years, while their counterparts with first degree were being promoted.

According to them, the state government directed all HND teachers to update their certificates with post graduate diploma in education before it could promote them, adding, “despite that we have complied and updated our certificates, the government has refused to promote us.”

“Instead of promoting us, the government withdraws us from the classroom to administration. We have been on level 14 for 10 years, while our colleagues in other states of Ogun, Osun and Oyo have been enjoying promotion like their first degree holders.