Truancy Crackdown: Bayelsa Education Commissioner Suspends Principal Amidst Surprise School Tour
During the visit to Community Secondary School Ikolo, the delegation found no teachers on duty at 9:30 AM, a situation students confirmed had persisted for weeks.
Binye-lum 
On June 11, 2024, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle E. Emelah, conducted a surprise tour of schools in rural areas of Yenagoa Local Government Area to inspect facilities and monitor teaching and learning activities. The inspection, which included four schools, revealed significant truancy among teachers, heads of schools, and principals.
During the visit to Community Secondary School Ikolo, the delegation found no teachers on duty at 9:30 AM, a situation students confirmed had persisted for weeks. In response, Dr. Emelah expressed strong disapproval of the neglect and announced the immediate suspension of the principal, Mr. Moses Oguro Monday, for three months without salary due to gross negligence and misconduct.
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In contrast, Mr. Agah Somfieme, a casual Mathematics teacher present during the inspection, was offered permanent employment based on his consistent attendance and good record since 2017, as testified by students.
Dr. Emelah directed all teachers from Community Secondary School Ikolo to report to the Ministry of Education on June 12, 2024, for sanctions. He emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the issue of teacher absenteeism, especially given the provision of suitable teachers' quarters.
Further inspections at Community Primary School Bomoundi-gbene and St Andrew Primary School Bebelebiri led Dr. Emelah to urge head teachers to increase pupil enrollment and ensure no child is out of school during learning hours.
At the final stop, Community Secondary School Yenaka, Dr. Emelah condemned reports of truant teachers threatening government officials. He reiterated that the inspection exercise aimed to ensure accountability, not to target individuals, and warned that any future incidents of such behavior would be dealt with seriously.
Dr. Emelah also called on inspectors from the Post Primary Schools Board (PPSB) and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to meet expectations and reduce teacher truancy. He noted issues like inadequate chairs and dilapidated structures at some schools, assuring that the government would swiftly address these concerns by providing more chairs and carrying out necessary renovations.
