Parents Protest Mass Transfer of Teachers at Abuja School
Summary: Tensions have erupted at Anglican Comprehensive Secondary School (ACSS) in Kubwa, Abuja, due to a recent mass transfer of teachers, which parents allege is retaliatory. The transfers followed teacher protests over unpaid salaries from 2023.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
Tensions are mounting at Anglican Comprehensive Secondary School (ACSS) in Kubwa, Abuja, following a mass transfer of teachers that has sparked outrage among parents. The transfers occurred after teachers raised concerns over five months of unpaid salaries in 2023, which were eventually paid after parents intervened. Parents suspect that the transfers were punitive, while the school's administration insists that the decision aligns with official policies of the Anglican Church, which owns the school.
On Monday, 12th September 2024, armed policemen arrived at the school, leaving shortly after a brief conversation with the Principal and a group of parents. The next day, the police returned and detonated a tear gas canister in an attempt to disperse the parents, who were gathered peacefully at the school gate. The parents, expressing concerns for their children's education, believe that the sudden transfer of familiar teachers, especially for exam classes, will negatively impact the students.
Deaconess Chika Onuke, Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), stressed that while parents do not oppose the school’s transfer policy, the scale and timing of the transfers raise suspicion. Parents argue that the removal of teachers, particularly for students in Junior and Senior Secondary 3, could affect exam performance. Onuke emphasized that continuity is critical for the students' success, calling for teachers in exam classes to remain in place.
Parents also highlighted the economic burden on teachers who were transferred to distant locations, noting that the low salaries, particularly for those with NCE and B.Sc. qualifications, make commuting unsustainable. They also criticized the deployment of armed policemen, viewing it as an intimidation tactic to suppress their peaceful protest.
The school’s proprietor, the Bishop, defended his decision, stating that the school operates under the rules of the Anglican Church and parents are free to withdraw their children if dissatisfied. He confirmed the invitation of armed policemen due to concerns over threats to his property but did not address allegations of punitive teacher transfers.
As of the time of this report, the replaced teachers have resumed their duties at ACSS Kubwa, and many of the transferred teachers have reported to their new posts.
