Tamale, July 26, GNA - Mr San Nasamu Asabigi, the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, was on Tuesday astonished at the level of teacher absenteeism in schools when he paid a surprise visit to some basic schools in the Tamale Metropolis.

He and his team visited the Tugu Zion Primary School in a farming community along the Tamale-Yendi road and the Lahagu Islamic and Zoborgu Primary schools.

At the Tugu Zion Primary only one teacher was seen teaching while one Master Abubakar Fuseini, a class six pupil, was trying his best to keep the Class One and Kindergarten pupils occupied by engaging them in singing.

Mr Mahama Abukari, the only teacher present during the visit, could not explain his colleagues’ absence but said there were supposed to be six teachers in the school.

On their way to the Zoborgu Primary School at about 0949 hours the team was amazed to find pupils returning to their homes because not a single teacher had reported to school.

The situation was no better at the Lahagu Islamic Primary as children were seen fencing a garden which the authorities claimed was for the school.

Out of the eight teachers supposed to be at this school five were present.

Mr Mahamudu Sani Abdul, the Tamale Metropolitan Director of Education, who was part of the Deputy Minister’s entourage, expressed shock at the attitude of the teachers to work and said those found wanting would be sanctioned.

When he asked the teachers at the Lahagu Primary for their lesson notes, they could not produce any.

The head teacher said that had been his major problem and he had reported it several times to the circuit supervisor but to avail.

He blamed the teachers’ absenteeism on the part of parents whom he said were not encouraging their children to attend school regularly

This was by rebutted by one Abdulai Bukari, a parent, who stated that the problem should be laid squarely at the doorsteps of the teachers who were frequently absent from school.

Mr Asabigi commended the few teachers who were at post for their dedication to duty and urged them to ensure that effective teaching and learning was carried out.