The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday, suspended two teachers of FCT School for the Blind, Jabi, Abuja, for alleged molestation of female students.
FCT’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Chinyeaka Ohaa, directed the immediate suspension of Ilo Chukwuma and Ebenezer Olateju, pending the conclusion of investigations on the matter.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ohaa paid an unscheduled visit to the school on Wednesday, following reports of molestations of some female students by their teachers.
Ohaa also directed that Chukwuma, who was accommodated in the school residential quarters, to leave the school within the week
The permanent secretary directed that both teachers should vacate the school’s premises until further notice.
He further urged the security agencies to ensure full compliance with the directive and its implementation.
He stressed that the issue of alleged rape of a student against Olateju was an embarrassment to the authorities.
“While we are working round the clock to give every physically challenged student the best of education, we cannot have incidences because it will mar our progress and achievements.
‘‘We want to be fair and follow due process. So, we will allow the committee to do its work and report by next week.
‘‘But let me assure parents that anyone found culpable in any of these incidents, not only in this school, will be dismissed and prosecuted.
‘‘Our teachers, like Caesar’s wife must be above board,” said the permanent secretary.
Ohaa expressed disgust over the actions of the accused teachers as he listened to victims narrate their ordeals.
He lamented that teachers, who were supposed to be protectors, were now the students’ nightmare.
“We cannot allow this kind of behaviour to continue. These children, more or less, are helpless and they depend on teachers here.
‘‘They have confidence and trust in you that you will protect them from immorality and even outside invasion and you turn out to be the person they are now afraid of.
‘‘As a government, we cannot just fold our arms,” he declared.
One of the victims said that the affected teacher (Chukwuma) had touched her inappropriately while they were in the school bus on an excursion to Kwali two weeks ago.
‘‘Another victim also claimed one of the affected teachers had always singled her out to berate after she had indicated that she would not condone his inappropriate action.’’
The School’s Head Teacher, Abdulrazaq Ademola, explained that already a committee had been set up to investigate the issue and the reports had been forwarded to the Secretary of the Local Education Authority for onward report to the FCT UBEB.
The Chairman, FCT Universal basic Education Board (UBEB), Dr Kabir Matazu, said that the directives of the permanent secretary were already being implemented.
He said a note of warning had been sounded to all school heads that such behaviour would not be condoned in their schools.
He said school heads had been warned that they would henceforth be held liable if such incidence recurred. (NAN)
