Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru, Northern Regional Minister, says government is working to strengthen supervision at public schools to deal with teacher absenteeism and ensure quality education. Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru, who said this in a speech read on his behalf at the second congregation of the Bimbilla Evangelical Presbyterian (E.P) College of Education, said: “Our strongest desire is to strengthen supervision and deal with offending teachers so that they would find it equally important like their colleagues in private schools to do the work expected of them.”

A total of 566 students comprising 427 regular students of the 2013 and 2014 year groups and 139 sandwich students of the 2013 year group graduated with diplomas in basic education.

Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said teacher absenteeism and lack of supervision in public schools are a concern to government since they affect quality education delivery and appealed to the new teachers to avoid absenting themselves.

He said: “Your commitment to serve should be the overriding factor in all that you do, it does not pay nor benefit you in anyway to be a truant teacher and only pretend to work when the supervisor is around.”

“You must cultivate the sense of inner feeling of satisfaction that you are serving your people and imparting knowledge”.

Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru also spoke about the withdrawal of allowances for teacher trainees in the country saying it was not an act of wickedness but one that would ensure a high intake at colleges of education.

He said the teacher trainees’ loan scheme has been introduced to replace the allowance policy adding that government places premium on teacher education in the country and would not turn its back on teachers.

Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru cited a number of educational infrastructure projects being undertaken in the Nanumba North District besides the Eastern Corridor Road adding that government would continue to pursue policies and programmes that would make life better for the citizenry.

Mr Abdulai Abu-wemah, Principal of Bimbilla E.P College of Education, said the college has developed a five- year strategic plan to develop and entrench its enrolment system by creating more programmes and expanding to sister institutions to further academic work, teaching, learning and research.

Mr Abu-wemah said the College is fast growing and expanding adding: “We are committed to strengthen the governance system and structures for greater efficiency and effectiveness.”

He appealed to government to help address the serious infrastructural challenges facing the college saying it could not admit more students due to inadequate lecture halls and dormitories.