By Peter Obiechina
A crisis of confidence is currently rocking Community Secondary School, Asokoro, an elite educational institution run by the Department of State Security (DSS).
The discord, which has been brewing since the lockdown months when the school was not in session, boiled over last Monday, November 2 when the management was compelled to shut down the school.
Already all the teaching staff, said to number around 60 in the secondary section alone, has been sent packing, with letters of disengagement promptly handed them.
The gale of sacks also blew away the Principal of the school, Alhaji Sa’idu Ahmed, and his two vice principals, Mrs Nnennaya Ukonu, Admin and Mrs I. Abatan, Academics.
Sources within the school told 365Daily that what started as an agitation for increased welfare, in form of salary increase, following a review of the national minimum wage, was rebuffed by the Proprietor of the school, Alhaji Lawal Daura, Director-General of the DSS.
Perhaps embittered by the threat by the teachers not to continue to discharge their functions, Daura was said to have seconded a new Education Secretary to the school upon resumption two weeks ago.
The new ES had upon resumption been unable to assuage the yearnings of the teachers, leading to their mass sack two days ago.
“The School wishes to crave your indulgence to allow her close for two(2) weeks with effect from 3rd November, 2020 to 17th November, 2020. This is to enable the Management re-organise the school,” Mrs M.O Onyilo, new ES of the school wrote in a circular to parents and guardians.
The circular handed out on Monday, while regretting the inconveniences occasioned by the sudden closure, however, came with a promise to ” make up for lost time.”
The development came to both parents and students with a shock, with one enraged father wondering why the welfare of the teachers could not be enhanced, especially as parents who do not belong to any of the Services were made to pay N90,000 as tuition per student this term – up from the previous amount of N74,000.
While many doubt the feasibility of getting fresh and qualified teachers to take the place of the sacked ones, 365Daily gathered that the DSS might direct all those displaced to re-apply. And by so doing, entrap them into signing fresh bonds to be of ‘good behaviour’.