Federal Polytechnic Oko Staff School teachers sad to celebrate Christmas (Don't read! Unless, you are not in a hurry)

Teachers in the staff school of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko Anambra State said they are celebrating a bleak Christmas as their November and December ‘peanut’ salaries were not paid.

The teachers lamented that they were hired as Polytechnic staff but were never paid salaries as Polytechnic staff and appealed to the Governing Council Chairman of the Polytechnic , Dr Christian Azubuike to intervene as they are prepared to do something untoward next year.

Principal of the School , Mr Stephen Awgu in lamentation told www.odogwublog.com that himself and staff are suffering in silence as nobody is fighting for them over their 19 months unpaid salary arrears and to regularize their status. He said they since inception of the staff school were short-changed.

                                                      The Headmistress

                                                                  Principal

 

Rented Nursery and Primary school block

 

The secondary block at old strucutures in the Poly

The staffers appealed to Dr Azubuike to play a fatherly role and register his name in the history as all their appeals to the Rector , Prof Godwin Onu has yielded nothing sequel to sabotage be beneficiaries of the old order. 

         Students of the staff secondary school under mango tree when visited several months ago

                                                          The only toilet then

‘’when we were owed this 19 months arrears , we were paid stipend of N5,000 monthly with promises that immediately documentation is completed , we would be paid our arrears and dues. They deduct monies for NASU dues and pension scheme as Polytechnic staff which we were employed but paid us peanuts as causal staff.

‘’The Polytechnic would be employing new staff in January , yet we employed for years are yet to enjoy our salary and this little boy was busy talking trash ...........the Governing council chairman is a good man but somebody is painting a wrong picture for the man.......we are not bothered with millions they spend everyday but our salary ............’’

It would be recalled that www.odogwublog.com exposed the anomaly and one tenth of the report  was published in the Sun mistakenly with name of the reporter leading to The Nation sacking the reporter for writing for their competitor. The unedited report of the version published by Sun is below in case you have time to read and judge the report ........

The report was done before the coming in of the new governing council or about the time they took over and their reaction was not inclusive but with the newest appeals , the team may do some magic if not swayed by the wrong advisers of those benefitting from the wrong order. (the report had about 60 pictures of which some are posted here)

This is the link where the Polytechnic denied ever granting the interview here

And this is the voice of the PRO who the rector directed to speak o confirm he spoke. The content in the interview was accurately what he said, click here

Then the unedited report for reasons even with phone contacts  

 Federal Polytechnic Oko staff schools going extinct

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu

Staffers of Federal Polyetchnic Oko staff schools ---Secondary and Nursery/Primary are walking dead. They have many reasons to curse the management of Federal Polytechnic Oko for insensitivity and gross neglect.

The school was opened around September,  2002 after an internal and external advert in the National Dailies with ref no FPO/RG/02/Vol.111/140.  The vacancy advertisement was for the two schools and salary structure in the advert was HATTIS 6, 7, 8, and 9 as endorsed by the then Acting Registrar , Chief A.N Nkwonta .

But that was the beginning of their numerous problems as after resumption the staff of the schools was owed salary of 19 months without reasons. The salaries were still owed till date as many resigned to fate and others left after 19 months working without salary. So many others died on the process due to hunger and deprivation even when students paid their dues.

Such scenario played out this year as from July 2013 to October, 2013, the staff were owed four months’ salary until The Nation correspondent raised alarm to the management and they were paid instantly. They had written the Management to no avail. They protested twice to the management yet nothing happened.

The staff had written to Prof Godwin Onu through the Acting Principal , Mr S.C Awgu dated 26^th September, 2013 entitled ‘’Your Staff School in Distress’’. They staff referred the Rector to letters they have written 26^th August and 13^th September , 2013 stating that their problems have been compounded as they resumed on 16^th October.

‘’We have not been paid since July 2013 and the staff insist on being paid with the new salary structure whose prepared schedule has been waiting for approval since October 2012 as we are yet to receive the subvention for last academic session.

‘’ we urgently need a re-roof of one of the classrooms which caved in leaks very badly as e cannot accommodate our new intakes without it. We need extra classrooms. We seek your approval to collect Lab equipment from Ufuma ‘campus of the Polytechnic’. We need fund for running the schools.

‘’We need some stationeries which are not available in the schools store such as Black Board chalk , Stencil, Ink , ribbons and sports etc. We need computer system for the schools. The above are problems that demand urgent attention. Please sir come to our aid. And yet nothing happened.  

  

The Principal was unrelenting as he wrote another letter for release of their subvention dated 26^th August 2013, reminding Prof Onu led management that  he had written on 12^th January 2013 for the release of the subvention to no effect reminding that it was a long slog through the last academic session without the subvention yet the schools were unable to pay salaries.

‘’The school have run out of every material necessary for running the schools as it stands…….’’.   

Why then would those still owed 19 months should not enjoy the labour of their hands while alive and those who have died have their next of kins paid with apologies.  

The condition of service of the staff school is frustrating and nobody cares as immediately after they were employed, the HATTIS scale was thrown away and they are now using Grade level salary scale not in accordance with the rule of engagement. For that reason they rejected their Cheques but rather than amend the cheques to reflect the rule of engagement , they stopped paying them until after 19 months and rather curiously asked all of them to resign.

Yet , the workers persisted and have been down with hunger and unpaid bills , they were paid that 20^th month with Grade level and they accepted it without anybody giving them explanation about the 19 months arrears. They lamented that grade level was far lower to the rule of engagement.

It was Dr Yusuf Awodi , then Acting Rector that exposed their wickedness against us as he informed us that our salary comes from the same source with the other Polytechnic  staff and we should be taking home same salary structure with Polytechnic Non Academic staff but the other Rectors and management embezzled their 19 months’ salary arrears and shortchanged them for 13 years.

In confirmation of the deceit, on August 15^th, 2013 the staff of the Polytechnic staff schools, Nursery/Primary and Secondary got alerts from First Generation Pension Fund that their salary has entered and they have taken their cut. That was when they wondered why the management of the Polytechnic have been deceiving them in the past 13 years and have been doing business with their monies starving their families and threatening and intimidating them.

A staff alleged that there was a grand design by the Former Vice President  of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ensure the staff school never existed as it would be a challenge to the popular Gaius Benton Memorial  schools near the Polytechnic owned and managed by the wife of the former Vice President. The Gaius schools are doing great but the staff school lamenting. At a time the staff of the privately run school were allegedly paid from the Polytechnic purse as if it was a staff school.

Founder of the Polytechnic staff school, Dr U.C Nzewi today is an unhappy man as his dream refused to grow. The baby continued to crawl 13 years after. During the first ever Ekwueme lecture series in 2011 founded by the incumbent Rector, Prof Godwin Onu , a philanthropist from Umunze, Orumba South local government area , Chief Jona Eze, a multi billionaire gave the Institution  N20 Million naira to put an end to the lamentation of a permanent structure for the Demonstration school at the Permanent site of the Polytechnic, yet the Nursery/Primary is still operating in an environment best described as an ‘eye sore’ and the Secondary school in a precarious situation.

‘’The money till today we don’t know what happened to it aside the numerous intimidation, harassment and suppression of staff. We have nothing to boost of as parents daily withdraw their wards because of lack of amenities and it is not funny at all.’’, a concerned staff revealed.

‘’There is no laboratory here, no facilities for practical even the Entrepreneur classes we could not introduce with WAEC at hand , staff spend their own money in the Polytechnic Laboratory to do practical because they demand money from us.  That is why in JSS 1 and SSS 1, we would have many students intake but before their JSS 3 and SSS 3, they would desert the school having discovered its emptiness.

The Sack

At a time we were forced to resign because according to them the school had been handed over to a Consultant, one Mr Mbanefo who addressed us and sacked all of us in both Primary and Secondary section. He gave us our sack letters even when they were owing us 19 months arrears and incomplete salary of 13 years. But because we were hungry and deprived we could not afford a lawyer and we did not even remember the fourth estate of the realm.

‘’Many of the teachers have resigned but are interested on when they would be paid their 19 months and remnants of the incomplete salary for 13 years. Many others have died and many retired but they still call us to know what the management is doing in that regards. More than 100 teachers and their families were impoverished by ill advised fraudulent management of the Polytechnic and they were using our money for business at the detriment of our families and up till now they have not deemed it fit to correct the wrongs of yester years for their selfish gains. Where as they in management buy new cars and build new houses every day sending their children to the best of schools.

‘’Promotions have been denied us since 24^th June 2008 till date and all our anticipations for promotion 13 years after in a Federal Polytechnic where we have counterparts in Colleges of Education and Polytechnics as well as Universities enjoying the Federal civil service salary scheme. And those who had promotions at last year was with notional effect to 2009 and financial benefit from 2012, so it was messy. They enjoy promotion as at when due why can’t us. And we have no other financial benefits. We have continued in the same salary structure till date. There has never been anything like increment in salary structure. If for example you are taking home N50, 000 in 2002 when the institution started, the person is still taking home the same amount till date.

‘’Again, we have never had a full fledged Principal but Acting Principals till today in a Federal Government establishment. The first Principal Mr Ebele Ehieheanya acted from 2003 to last year 2012 on acting capacity and when he realized there was no headway and started agitating for the teachers , he was removed unceremoniously for asking about the N20 Million donated by Chief Eze. And Mr Stephen Awgu appointed also in acting capacity but they are regretting appointing the man because the man cannot tolerate their excesses.

‘’that has been bane of the growth of the school, because from over 600 students in each new term to a little above 200 before you say Jack Robinson. Parents and Guardians withdraw their children and wards without notice having seen they are retrogressing rather than grow academically. We had thought Prof Godwin Onu, would have tackled it in the last four years but nothing was done but now he has been according to the PRO reappointed. The pupils in Nursery/Primary are staying in a gallows of death in a four storey uncompleted building.

Our Correspondent was able to obtain files in the Registrar that showed that the staff of the Polytechnic staff school are members of  staff of the Polytechnic as indicated in their letter of confirmation dated August 1, 2005  with Ref Number FPO/SC/ staff file number included  and the letter read thus,’’ Confirmation of Appointment -----I am directed to inform you that the confirmation of your appointment as a staff  of Federal Polytechnic , Oko has been approved with effect from 15/11/2004 . Please accept our congratulations as signed by then Deputy Registrar, Okey Mgbemena (JP) for the Registrar.

The invitation for interview dated 3^rd October, 2002 read thus,’’ following your application for a teaching appointment in the Polytechnic Primary/Secondary School , I am pleased to invite you for an interview on Thursday the 10^th day October, 2002. The venue is the Polytechnic’s Council Chamber , 2^nd floor , Administrative Block , (ASO ROCK)   by 10 am . Please endeavour to be there on time and don’t forget to bring ORIGINALS of your academic and other credentials. The document was signed by G.H.M Maduekwe Deputy Registrar.

It was curious that all the correspondences between the staff and management we written in the Polytechnic letter heads and duly signed by Registrar or the representative yet they have been treated with impunity.

After the staff school teachers were sacked, they were recalled shortly after the staff refused to be intimidated until their arrears of salaries were paid. The then management could not vomit the millions they have embezzled and the staff purportedly recalled via this a letter to the consultant that the sacked teachers were no longer sacked and the consultant read it to them.

The letter of the withdrawal of their sack dated 10^th August , 2010  with reference FPO/P/47/VOL.1/79 and signed by C.A Ilonze Deputy Registrar for the Registrar entitled ,’’Appointment of Consultant for the Polytechnic staff schools---a withdrawal  read thus--- Subsequent to our letter on the above subject mater referenced FPO/P/47/VOL.1/30 dated 2^nd August , 2010, I am directed to withdraw the said letter. By this memo , you should count yourself a staff of the Polytechnic staff schools.

The protest letter that sacked former Acting Principal, Mr E. Ehichanya without payment of all his arrears of salary and salary cuts was dated 17/02/2011 for and on behalf of the staff entitled ‘Re: Polytechnic Staff schools staff welfare. It went thus: Your advertisement of 12^th February, 2011 vide the Saturday Sun paper of same date has called for attention to our general problem here in the staff schools . We did plead in our letter of 6^th October 2010 , subtitled ‘’Action Sought’’ item 2 that we be absorbed into the Polytechnic fold. It is on this note that we are here appealing to your dynamic judgment , tempered with mercy and love , as we see the mentioned advertisement as an opportunity for the Management to absorb us into the main stream of the Polytechnic as we earlier requested.  

Attached sir, is a list of the staff of the Polytechnic staff schools and such data as we think would help in this exercise. Thank you immensely while we wait for your favourable action’’.

The Parents Teachers Association of the Polytechnic staff Schools , Oko had on 15^th May, 2002 wrote then Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko a letter proposing an increase in school fees. The letter was signed by the Chairman of PTA , Chief J.C Aroh and Secretary , Mrs G.U Anene . As at that time , students in Nursery section

SAVE OUR SOULS

We ,the under listed staff off Federal Polytechnic Oko, working at the  staff schools have suffered untold marginalization with respect to payment of our salaries and every other condition of service since our employment .We have been  reporting ,complaining and crying out to the polytechnic management several time over our plight to no avail. The condition worsens by the day, which adversely affects our lives and families.

We, once again, implore you to use your good offices to immediately correct these marginalized and anomalies in our previous and subsequent pay packages for the following reasons

1.     We are confirmed staff of Federal Polytechnic Oko (confirmed letters enclosed).

2.     Our respective ID cards issued to us on employment, with our staff reference numbers, confirm our employment status (copies enclosed).

3.     In 2006, we took part in the E-Registration exercise for Public Sector Employees registered with a Pension Fund Administrators (PFA).We receive our pension account updates as every other public sectors employee, to date. The pension Administrators, over the years, are evidence of our true pay package from Federal Government, which gets lost in transits and so does not get to us (photocopies attached). These alerts and letters come even in those blue days we stay for 3 to 4 months at a stretch without even the little we are given as salaries (E.g. February-April, August- November 2010, July-Oct.2013 experiences).

4.     Some of us were involved in 2003 staff Audit exercise .All of us were involved in 2006 and 2010 staff Audit exercise .All of us were involved in 2012 assets declaration exercise for Public Officers, and we were all fully involved in the recent Federal  Polytechnic Oko Staff Biometric Data Capture 2012, and numbered like every other staff (photocopies attached).

5.     Some of our fellow staff members (precisely 6 of them)working under the same roof, doing the same job in the staff schools receive all their pays and entitlements , under our nose ,while we walk and work hungrily before them, thereby increasing our psychological torture.   

We cannot continue to cry from one management office to the other (as was the case these last months ) before we are given the little we receive as pay

The above facts left us in gross and embarrassing confusion over what is happening to our salaries in Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State, all these years. We therefore earnestly demand the following:

1.     That we be given our due placement and our salaries henceforth be paid, as portrayed in our pension letters; including other attendant condition of service.

2.     That we be given our 2012 promotion, with its accruing arrears; and subsequent promotion as and when due, as every other staff.

3.     That the difference between what we are being given as salary and the pay package our pension letters portray all these years, be given to us.

4.     That we be treated with respect and dignity as every other human being employed by the polytechnic; as these inhuman treatments has sapped many of us psychologically.

5.     That we be pleased in an enabling working environment structurally, as hitherto we have been working in dilapidating buildings with caving-in roofs, in large contrast with all other structures in the polytechnic.

This situation has lingered for years, and is increasingly becoming unbearable,

PLEASE SAVE OUR SOULS.

We use this medium to solicit for your kind intervention into our employment and salary dilemma in Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State.

We were all employment employed between 2002 and 2005. We are employed, confirmed and numbered into the Federal Polytechnic Oko work force (as seen in the enclosed staff list and Staff Bio Data). We do not understand why our salaries, all these years, will only reflect in our pension letters, even to date, while we do not receive such salary in cash.

We are Nigerians, and sons and daughters of Nigerians. We do not have any other country to belong to.

Please, for God’s sake, kindly use you good offices to come to our rescue, and help us out of this embarrassing and humiliating dilemma and injustice done to us in our land.

 

Students were busy writing examinations but under the mango tree. What a sight in a Federal Polytechnic of all places? Some others were outside the classroom in the corridors of the classrooms.

That was the Federal Polytechnic, Oko staff Secondary School located within the compound of Federal Polytechnic Oko but secluded somehow. The school has Nursery, Primary and Secondary sections, all in one uncompleted three storey building at up town near bumps bus stop behind Eke Oko before the Secondary section was relocated to the Polytechnic before the main gate , behind the Polytechnic Medical center.

At the Secondary section,. Smartly dressed students were busy writing exams in congested classrooms to the extent that some where outside the corridors and others under the trees. It was a dry season hot afternoon and the students under the mango tree were enjoying while those inside the classroom were feeling hot. But the students were cultured and disciplined to a large extent because throughout my stay no student loitered about or went outside the gate.  Their teachers were busy supervising or marking and attending to them

But the urinary was something else even as any female student that enters there ‘must’ contact one of the diseases prevalent in such untidy environments. The toilets were filled with human waste with flies peeving around with ugly odour oozing out  from the pit toilets. The water closet is nothing to write home about.

‘In the Library , there was not even a single exercise book , no seats to the reading tables and in the make shift Laboratories , there was no chemicals . The classrooms and labs as well as the library and offices have no fans , no  light , no toilets , no nothing and in some the ceilings were falling off

For the Headmistress of the Nursery section , Mrs Okoli Susan , everything was fine with the school but when confronted with the verdict of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, the mother Institution she reluctantly spoke not unmindful of why such scenario played out as it is capable of pitching the staff and management. She wished she was not on seat to attend to this correspondent.

‘’There is no problem but our building is not in the best of shape as you can see. It is not befitting our name as Polytechnic staff school but in am sure the new Rector has concluded plans to change our fortune. Here is not the permanent site is down the school.

‘’We were even lucky that somebody from Umunze , Chief Eze gave N20 Million for the Polytechnic to build an ultra modern staff school. The foundation has been laid already and works ongoing. We were all there and the man came with his family. So you have seen that we are not going to be here forever.

Okoli appears to be different as she responded to issues of salary this way, ‘’We are not having problem with  our salaries. The four months salary arrears have been cleared and in fact  we are waiting alert for the November salary. Yes, there  is 19 months arrears issues but it was when we started. They were given them stipends not salary. It happened that some of us in the Polytechnic with NCE and B.ED were mobilized to come and help out here when the Polytechnic opened the school and at a later period after they have employed staff , management asked those who wished to go back to go but some of us stayed back. Even for two to three times we were given letters to go back but our senior here asked us not to leave on sympathy grounds as we were already used to the situation to continue to assist out.   

‘’Our environment is not conducive and our population is reducing by the day . I am pleading for us to go where we truly deserve . Again concerning the allegation that I and some others were paid while others were not , I was not employed here. I was employed by the Polytechnic in 2000 and when this school was opened was seconded. I understand the situation of my colleagues but I have always counselled that rather than stay idle at home waiting for jobs, it is better to go out and come back in the evening with something because there is no job. I am appealing to my colleagues to be patient as God’s time is the best because many started as contract staff for years before getting hooked.  I  was employed as a causal staff with N4,000 for years until I was employed with HATTIS 1 N8,000 even with NCE and higher degrees.  But the only thing I am suggesting or requesting is a befitting environment to perform because we are dealing with human beings and motivation is key to good delivery. The population of the pupil is currently put at 74 and staff is 10 against what it used to be.

The Principal of the staff Polytechnic school, Mr Awgu was shocked that the PRO of the Polytechnic invited him on 28^th November, 2013 after he had called around 8 am on 27^th demanding to know why he knows why he decided to expose the institution to the press while he was not aware of that. Obini did not believe him but showed him his laptop containing about 24 questions but he was able to read 10 of the questions before he asked him to speak with a correspondent that sent him the mail telling him that everything has been resolved.  But,’’ I refused to be used cheaply.  I insisted that those things contained there were nothing but the truth and he asked me to go since I believe it should come out in the press and I don’t want to comply. Why should somebody say that we are Independent when my Secretary and Senior Igbo teacher is from the Polytechnic .

Awgu lamented that the roofs of the classrooms are leaking and ceiling caving in on he students even while class were on.

‘’At a time the ceilings were pilling off and the students kept complaining to me but I asked them to march to Aso Rock and show the Rector. They went and I was blackmailed for that. I was asked to come. When I came I was asked to deny sending the students but I maintained I sent them since I have met with the Rector, Prof Onu and he promised to marble the classrooms but I insisted it may not be necessary as what we needed is putting the structures in other by re-roofing them and giving us more space because there is congestion already until we got to the permanent site but up till today nothing has happened.

‘’ Whenever it rains , the students are in trouble but what shall we do as every little thing attracts threats and harassment. My interest is that the school should be put in other because we are not interested in the allegations that we are sabotaging the system. I didn’t request for this job  and there is nothing to die for it, they can take it but let them pay us all they are owing us from arrears to short-changing us.

‘’This suppose to be the school with the highest population of students around here but it is not. The students pay N7,500 for children of staff and N8,000 for children of Non staff.  Our typing is done outside because we are using manual type writers which is now unserviceable. Our population was 420 but now 282 because of environment and it is unbelievable that students here study outside the classroom , in the corridors and under the trees. There is no library, there is not even a text book is in the Library , no laboratory , no chemical in the labs but we are staff secondary school.  

Pension  Administrator FGPL alert to  one of the staff  read thus,’’ Dear .......your RSA account is credited with N32.191.2k as contribution for August 2013, your  balance as at 30/09/2013 is N2,813,259.98. Thanks for choosing FGPL 01-2715500-3

Another FGPL alert read thus,’’ Dear ......, your RSA is credited with N30,159.00 aqs contribution for September 2013. Your bal is N2,864, 561.72. Thanks for choosing FGPL 01-2715500-3

But Ehichanya , the former principal was bitter on the denials that the Polytechnic has nothing to do with the staff school that he asked that his salary arrears and deprivations be paid him and he resigns. He wondered why people should be so callous, wicked and depraved when it concerns others welfare.

‘’ our environment is nothing to write home about and conditions of service most horrible. I was engaged with Polytechnic staff scheme as advertised only to be short-changed and was asked not to speak out. I am not receiving the salary in accordance with my academic qualification. I graduated  in 1986 in Mathematics Education and for several years of experience and with a Polytechnic staff school , I don’t even take home up to N80, 000 per month but in the Polytechnic somebody who cant even spell his name takes over N100,000 . Life has become difficult for me and others because we are under paid in a Federal Institution.

Ehichianya   continued,’’ we were part of the audit in 2003 and 2005 and yet we are not part of the Polytechnic staff . And the recent personnel audit where we were asked for our Biodata we were there , why then would somebody say we are independent even when we are enduring all the humiliation and under pay  but now we are ready to go to the Industrial court and invite EFCC as well as human rights acti9vists to take up our case because we are undergoing modern day slavery here. The Minister for Education should act on our situation.

‘’Even if they sack me , I am not bothered as far as they would pay me all my entitlements as in my employment letter.  Look at the PRO who just came i few years back dabbling into a case he knows nothing about without consulting his superiors for the right things to say. He came in with level 8 and was skyrocketed to level 14 to be able to be in that position, talking to people who have spent all their life in the service of humanity and have spent 13 years without anything to show for it while under 4 years, people are living like kings unmindful of others.  Why would the Polytechnic employ people on daily basis yet we are here decaying and wasting despite our efforts and qualifications we could not be engaged full after 13 years yet jobs were advertised and hundreds employed.  

The Nation sighted exchange of letters and memo’s between the Rector and the staff school yet they are independent. 

Ubaka

Ubaka in line with his training in meticulous demanded for identification form this correspondent which he got severally from office ID to NUJ ID before he started denying that the staff were owed.

‘’…the problem is that people don’t tell stories of how they came in but how it concerns them . Are you relevant with Uba Nwuba regime? The Polytechnic staff school teachers were employed during Prof Uba Nwuba regime and you know how that regime is? Prof Nwuba made the engagement when they were not covered by our budget even though he assured them that they would be paid once they are covered in the budget—that’s w hen government approves.

‘’Those claiming they were owed 19 months salary arrears were not sincere to themselves because their engagement were not in line with laid down procedures and rules. There  was a time Prof Nwuba threatened to sack all of them but they came begging until they were allowed to continue. He agreed to pay them once budget comes.  We are not owing them 19 months salary arrears . They were owned nothing. Where ar5e the documents showing that they were owed 19 months salary so that I can confirm that they are authentic?  

But when reminded that they had an engagement letter after an interview advertised in National Dailies , he said ‘’The man who engaged them did an agreement with them and your employer determines where he places you or where he posts you…… They should complain to the management about there emoluments not me. Management controls emoluments and monetization. They are still resolving those that had problem. They should find out what the position is based on how they started.

But when pressed further on why for 19 months the staff were paid between N3,500 and N7,000, Ubaka then changed the music ,’’ I am not aware of that. How can they be paid such amount but I became Chairman of the School Board in 2007 after the exit of the council. The staff school is managed a member of the Governing council and unless there is no council before a staff can be handed over temporarily, so now that a Governing council has been inaugurated , I am not the chairman …..’’.

‘’I cant account whether they were paid 19 months or being owed 19 months but I am in support that anybody engaged should be paid in line with the document of engagement and nothing less—whether permanent or temporary staff.  They should complain to the management.

On dearth of teachers, lack of infrastructure, and lack of labs, and library , Ubaka said,’’ They should complain  to management about their  environment because the Rector , Prof Godwin Onu is changing the face of the institution one by one and in turns . He is committed in changing the infrastructure and have promised to give the staff school a face lift and put it in its befitting standard . We are waiting for the Rector and as soon as it is our turn , he would swing into action’’. No house is complete in life and no administration can satisfy the needs of its workers. No employer satisfies the needs of workers , that’s why there is trade dispute.

With these answer, one was baffled on why the denial that the school wasn’t part of the Polytechnic by the Rector’s spokesman Obini Onuchukwu but Ubaka went further on that,’’ What do you mean that the school is independent? I don’t understand the question? Who is the mother of the staff school? Who is the Proprietor and founder? So , I don’t understand the concept until I hear from the Rector himself that the school is independent.   

On monetization, pension deduction and salary shortchange he said ,’’ Polytechnic management has paid all arrears of monetization unless those that have problem but it is an individual thing each person should go and sought out….  Who said they are not staff of the Polytechnic ? Tell me who said he is being shortchanged and I will call him or her now in your presence? I think I have given you enough time because Ubaka has some other things to do for himself. I have just counter signed their cheques for the salary of month of November.

On  N20 Million donated by Chief Jona Eze, Ubaka admitted the money was actually donated by Eze but could not give account whether it was for building of staff Nursery, Primary or Secondary school . ‘’I am not in control of the money but management is. And I don’t know whether the money is meant for Nursery, Primary or Secondary school but Chief Eze donated N20 Million for building of school.  Federal Polytechnic Oko management is in charge of that.

Primary school head

At the Primary section of the staff school,  Mrs Ezeanata Flor4a .U. the Headmistress who is literally weeping for the condition they found themselves  said about 10 widows in the school are pitiable sights to behold including herself who resigned from a public school to enter Federal Government employment only to have shot herself in the leg. She lamented on the situation of the school environment that had caused them much in terms of exodus of pupils after first term.

She confirmed most of the allegations, this correspondent sought for reactions from the Polytechnic management which was waved by the left arm and stated thus,’’  you have seen the wonderful environment we are in but our consolation is that the teachers despite the humiliation and deprivation of their rights are dedicated and committed to see to the future of these children. The pupils are doing great. Some parents will come to drop their children or pick them and you see anger visible in their faces and if they endure for a term by the next term they would change them schools. If we are in the right environment we are supposed to be , we would be having more population and more teachers, even our road is not good.

‘’We have 91 pupils here now but before we have over 200 pupils and parents out of frustration took their pupils elsewhere and again the treatment to staff by managers of the school is demoralizing because as a teacher you need to be happy to give your best but here everybody is unhappy and yet they strive to give their best.  We have the pupils of the low income earners staff of the Polytechnic here while the staff in the high income cadre  take their children to Gaius Benton schools.

On the allegation of independent , Ezeanata reacted thus,’’ how can anybody say we are independent when they interviewed us in accordance with and advertisement we applied for and placed us under different grades in HATISS depending on your qualification. And we are answering the Polytechnic staff? How can we be Independent with pupils paying N5,000 for none Polytechnic staff and N4,500 for Polytechnic staff? Remember that only in Oko community , there are 13 Primary schools .

‘’Let the management answer why we are not paid according to our rule of engagement for 13 years now and nobody is talking about it? And let the management too answer why our 19 months salary arrears have not been paid after we were paid stipends of between N3,500 to N7,000 depending on your grade. We are under paid here since 13 years and nobody is saying a word to us only for people to start saying we are independent. We are Independent and they deduct everything from our salary including Pension deductions and Union dues yet we re independent.   The union dues they deduct they don’t pay to the union because no staff here has benefitted from NASU for anything and when we demand they said the Polytechnic is not remitting our deductions and we wonder why?  I am not part of the staff of Polytechnic and I get Polytechnic Pension administrator alerts compulsorily.  And if they deduct up to N35,000 naira monthly from my salary as contributory pension fund, yet I am not  staff and some people are deducting my money for pension I am not part of and dues I have never benefitted from. What do you call that? Is it  criminal act?

‘’ I am not the founding Headmistress , the founding Headmistress came from the Polytechnic . I became Headmistress in 2002 and that time the staff school staff were paid with Anambra state government salary structure against what was advertised until  member of the Governing council of the Polytechnic supervising us raised the alarm that we were been under paid . Remember somebody said we are Independent even when we re not part of the Polytechnic but council member is charge of us. She asked Prof Uba Nwuba why it was so, that as Federal staff that we are under paid and shortchanged and he was asked to pay us Federal  salary as federal staff.

‘’ That led us to be asked to go and bring the salary scale of Federal Government College Nise and they started paying us with that until a review of that scale in 2011 we presented it but management refused to pay us that till today. We are not paid with Unity school improved salary scale and we are not paid with   Polytechnic salary scale yet all accreditations and audit done in the Polytechnic , we are inclusive.

On N20 Million ,’’ One man brought N20 Million and a foundation for the staff school was laid because the man Chief Eze was emphatic that the money is for a staff school to be named after him . The man  came with his wife to the foundation laying stone and promised to augment the money if it is not enough as structure springs up and we were pleased that soonest we would be relocated.  Our school and Nekede is the same thing and whatever happens there we know. They suffered the same thing we suffered until their own was rectified and they started enjoying the Polytechnic salary structure. Some cabal was busy shortchanging staff school staff and would not anybody talk about it. I pray the present Rector would demystify the mystery and we would be paid all our arrears and salary shortchanged. We are been enslaved here.  Is this environment befitting of a Polytechnic staff school? Widows here are most hit because they got jobs here to relive them of trouble of training their children alone under hard labour only to be enslaved by people without conscience.  For some who are married with the kind of husbands these days that have nothing doing, the problems are compounded.

‘’Let them pay us all our arrears and shortchanges (we are not paid with our salary scale as advertised) and ask us to go if they want than enslaving us without justification. They are owing us 19 months and at a time they started paying stipend and should be paid. Imagine somebody who left from state school system to Federal Polytechnic Oko when my husband died to enable me take care of my children but you can see the hopelessness we thrived in till date but I must thank God for live and health.  We are 13 staff but 2 on secondment . Here we deal with future stars and leaders and we talk from morning to 1:30 yet our salaries wont be paid but those doing nothing would be paid.

‘’NASU dues is deducted from our salaries but it was not paid to NASU and therefore we don’t benefit from NASU . My father died and nobody came yet we work in Oko Federal Polytechnic staff school but any member of NASU in the Polytechnic everybody would go.  NASU told us that they don’t see our dues.  Nekede Polytechnic staff school is enjoying Polytechnic salary structure for NASU but we cant even enjoy Unity schools staff salary structure. I buy chalk from my pocket and teachers have no text books which I have complained and I was asked to put it in writing , that I have done too.  

A staff of the school (names with held ) had an alert from FGPL pension administrator written this way,’’ Dear-------your RSA is credited with N35,239,06 contribution September, 2013. Your Bal is N3,347,747.70. Thanks for using FGPL  Tel : 01-2715500-3

 Oko Polytechnic Reacted

Reactions from The Rector Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Prof Godwin Onu. He spoke through his PRO , Obini Onuchukwu Obini

‘’The staff school we met was on a terrible condition. We inherited a  rickety environment . The management of that institution lies fully on the hands of the Management Board of the school headed by one Dr Ubaka.

‘’ They are fully in charge including monetary involvement . The Polytechnic  has nothing to do with the income from the staff school rather the Polytechnic has spent N10 Million on yearly basis to sustain the rickety environment .

‘’Two weeks ago the Polytechnic management paid in N5 Million to clear salary arrears and pay their staff up till December 2013. And whatever one naira they collect does not come to us . The petition is mere efforts of our detractors who have failed in their efforts to scuttle our second term bid. They are using the gullible staff of the staff school to mount a campaign of calumny against the Rector believing that they will create tension that will bring us to ridicule.

‘’The staff school is not in the scheme of service. Government has banned us from including staff school in the pay roll of Institutions and to that extent their condition of service cannot be same with the Polytechnic. We rather advise them to be independent and work hard to attract students population that will sustain them because today no establishment folds its hands and watch government sponsor all their activities because government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility . All the money totalling about 10 Million which we have already remitted all came from our internally generated revenue.

‘’All along the staff school has operated in difficulty and we cannot continue to spend without results forever.

On the allegations on Gaius Benton,’’ Gaius Benton belongs to Ekwueme’s wife not the Federal Polytechnic, Oko. And there was never a time we had a discussion with the school not to talk about a letter compelling us to frustrate the school. And if anybody has evidence , let him tender to the public.

For the N20 Million donated by Chief Jonah Eze for building of a modern Secondary School of International standard in Oko Polytechnic , the Image maker of the Institution said,’’ the money was not donated for the Polytechnic staff school but with a specific instruction from the donor to build a standard secondary school of which plans have reached advanced stage for the commencement of the construction. . So far a choice location have been made and Architectural plan concluded and work will commence later. (he promised to communicate where the choice location is) but continued by saying that the staff school should rally round and generate their own money because the Chief Jona Eze they looking at was the sole effort of the Rector . So , they should go all out and look for their own money .

What we are even waiting for is to get more IGR to make up the N20 Million because we have a policy here against abandoned property. It would be a surprise to hear that anybody in the staff school would be talking down on the efforts of the Rector Prof Godwin Onu to transform the Institution’s entire environment .  It is on record that infrastructural wise the management of Federal Polytechnic Oko Polytechnic is constructing no fewer than 17 structures and none is less than 2 storey building and they are going on simultaneously. 6 structures have been completed and virtually all the structures in the campus were comprehensively renovated. The landscaping and beautification which remained the watchword of the rector have turned the environment to a citadel of learning , an envy of other infrastructure . And these attracted commendation from the senate committee Chairman on Education , Senator Chukwumerije during his over sight function in Oko. He said and I quote,’’ that Federal Polytechnic Oko remains the fastest growing institution in the country. Apart from infrastructure the Rector has done 5 kilometre of roads in Atani and Oko campuses. The Rector has magnanimously sponsored the training of not less than 250 staff of the Polytechnic with majority of them about 200 studying abroad under TETFUND project.

‘’The aim is for them to study and improve the environment  and management of the infrastructure he is building. All these are geared towards our long agitation for change of status for a Federal University Technology . And at this point we do not think that distractions from the staff school is ideal . The Rector has received commendation from several quarters including the host community Oko for his wonderful performance.

Reacting on the short changing of staff  based on job vacancies they applied before coming to the institution, Obini said ‘’you talk of short change when  you are scheduled and in scheme of service .....the Institution is the staff school of Federal Polytechnic , Oko but not covered by the pay scheme of the Polytechnic.  The school is managed by one Dr Ubaka as I said earlier and Oko Polytechnic has nothing to do with the school but rather   we spend N10 Million on yearly basis to remedy the rickety condition of the school. They keep loosing their staff and students because they are not teaching and have come to blame the Polytechnic.

On salary differences, ‘’ How are they supposed to know what they are expected to be paid? There is no form of intimidation as they alleged . The only time Rector visited them was on inspection and they were taken unawares , but they were not in school. There environment is far from us. The problems at the school have been there before we come on board  and they have been folding their hands waiting for Polytechnic to carry their burden but we don’t have the money to throw about because we have our own challenges.

These staff of the school have left out of frustration but are still agitating for their rights denied them , Ezeobele G.N ; Obiagwu E.U ; Apunike MA; Nwafor C.N ; Ezeilo Alice ; Nwajiaku L.I and Ejikeme P.N . Others are Aniekwe Ngozi ; Ejikeme P.N ; Okoli A.O and Ogbuagu.  

Oko latest on staff school

The Principal in a deep lamentation told the Nation that what they take home as salary is five times bigger or 25 percent of 100 percent of their salary as some people above share their money every month callously.

‘’Some people somewhere in a cabal that is neatly connected are busy sharing 75 percent of our monthly salary to themselves while we slave and if that is not enough they have deprived us all entitlements due us with threats. We discovered that our salary is not what we are taking home because they are deducting 7 percent tax from our salary and we made enquires on what amount of money they were taking the tax and we discovered to our chagrin that what we are been paid is 25 percent of our salary in the last 13 years with the Federal Government Unity Schools we are looking at , then talk of our normal entitlements of engagements as Polytechnic staff. For example somebody in level 13 step 9 entitled for N1, 557, 675.00 per annum will be getting N389,402,25 per annum. This is if it is CONPSS.

‘’These Tax deductions were never paid in to the Internal Inland Revenue because tax clearance had been a problem for us to do one transaction or the other like registering our children or our  students for external examinations or that of other schools among other transactions. Let me not explain how we get tax clearance from the Polytechnic , so that it wont be I am talking too much but I must say the taxes deducted from our monies are not paid to the Federal In land Revenue or that of the state or any where but diverted.

‘’again Union dues are deducted from our monies but they are not paid even some times the Polytechnic will give us dull cheques. We are burning on two ends and because of the situation we found ourselves , the Anambra state Governor , Mr Peter Obi has not given us vehicle or cash as he has done to other schools of our status. We are loosing from all sides. They are simply callous and wicked. The Bursary staff  had told us one day that we don’t generate funds, and that was why we are having problems and I was quick to ask him how much he generates in sitting down in office.  

On the issue of Ekwueme’s family frustrating that school , he admitted that it may not be far from the truth as he was discussing with Rector one day on the ways to make the school thick told him that his hands were tight as Ekwueme allegedly said as far as he is alive the school would not progress .

He reminded that the founder of the school, Dr Nzewi UC was invited to the school for an event but said he would be there only if the Rector and Bursar would attend as he was still being persecuted for establishing the school. And everybody is afraid of one man they could not mention.

The Chairman of Polytechnic Staff schools Board , Dr Ubaka , C.E and the Principal/Secretary to the Board , Ehichanya , E wrote the Rector in 2012 July requesting that the 2011 minimum wage salary structure of the Federal Government Unity Schools for your approval for use in the Polytechnic staff schools as the Polytechnic uses the Federal government Unity schools salary structure instead of Federal  Polytechnic Consolidated salary structure to pay its staff  at the Polytechnic staff schools , but nothing happened.

By 31/10/2012 , the principal wrote again demanding for promotions even with voice of the Chairman of the school board who supported the appeal but nothing happened  

Bored by the entire scenario , a concerned staff, Ndu Agnes Ukamaka wrote the management led by Prof Godwin Onu on 6^th March , 2013 which the Registrar , Olih Nwokolobia acted on the 17^th Marc, 2013 and later on 2^ndApril 2013 yet there was no result.

Ndu had written the Rector requesting that the consolidated public service salary structure (CONPS) be reviewed including circulars to that effect SWC/S/04/viii/298 of 1^st July, 2010 from the office of the Executive Chairman of the National salaries , Income and wages commission  , Abuja conveying the President , Commander in Chief of the Armed forces approved upward review of the consolidated public salary structure . The effective date for implementation is 1^st July, 2010 but regretted that the staff of the Polytechnic Staff schools are still being paid with 2007  salary structure  and appealed for approval of 2010 for the staff schools staff.

But in a publication tagged,’’ Oko Poly refutes claims of disrupting ASUP’s meeting ‘’ in a national daily claimed thus,’’ …..It is on record that the rector had taken interest in the affai8rs of ASUP , NASU and SSANIP members.  This is a man when appointed, met over three years promotion arrears. . Some st5aff teaching and non teaching were stagnated in on rank , but today , the Polytechnic is not in arrears of any promotion. Over 17 ultra modern classrooms and staff offices are at various level of completion with seven ready for commissioning by this administration………..has concluded the conversion and upgrading of its staff and had since effected  payment ………’’.

The report ended by saying that the reports were,’’ just a mischief by junk reporters’’, probably this report is another ‘junk’ even when the management rushed to pay four months arrears of Polytechnic Nursery/Primary and Secondary schools staff.

The problems of the  staff schools ranged from staff welfare to accommodation , staff tutorial , issue of Autonomy and 19 moths arrears .

Other schools

A staff of the school who is afraid of loosing his life if mentioned said,’’ we are treated differently from our counterparts in other staff schools of our status especially as it pertains salary structure. Our enquires revealed that Ibadan Polytechnic , Idah Polytechnic and College of Education (Technical), Umunze , the staff of their staff schools are enjoying the Harmonized Tertiary Institution salary structure (HATISS)-employed as staff of the various Tertiary Institutions and seconded to their  respective staff schools.

‘’Rector to Rector have abandoned us and Governing council to Governing council too  but our appeal to Mr Senate President , David Mark and the Speaker of House of Representatives  Aminu Tambuwal and other concerned stakeholders in the Polytechnic Education as well as Mr President , Goodluck Jonathan is to intervene so that all the 19 months salary arrears owed us should be paid us and the deductions from our salary in the past 13 years be paid all the staff involved dead or alive, as well as monetization they paid every other Polytechnic staff be paid us in accordance with our engagement as advertised on 3^rd of September FPO/Reg/12/Vol1 iii/140 even though a few of us had their appointment letter bearing (HATTIS).

The aggrieved staff went further,’’    since this school started we have been having accommodation problem. Dr W.Y. Awodi relocated us to the main campus from the make shift we were since but it was like scotching the snake not killing it because the condition there is still nothing to write home about.  The trouble now is that we got a conditional accreditation from the Ministry of Education , WAEC and NECO to present our Senior Secondary Students for West African Examination Council and National Examination Council exams on the condition that we shall relocate to a real school plant come 2009 but up till now we are still at a temporary site despite assistance of N20 Million by Chief Eze for our permanent structure. And we are having inadequate structure for our streams  and we have no science laboratories, no school halls both for Assembly and exams , no library , no farms for agric to mention but a few.  We only hope no inspectors swoop on us one day for a follow up inspection and only God knows how much longer this hope will sustain us.

‘’I am hungry and confused as I speak to you now because we lack tutorial staff and the Principal is handicapped.  We lack teachers in areas of key subjects like English language , Igbo language and all the science and vocational subjects.

The staff explained that , ‘’ the rumour of autonomy is scary  because of serious inadequacy in facilities for proper implementation of school curriculum as stipulated by the National Policy on education.

But on the 19 months of salary arrears , the staff said,’’ the issue of 19 months arrears have lingered since 2002, but it only receive attention in 2005 February when Dr Obiorah Nwosu was the Chairman of the Staff school Board of Governors but it has remained unsettled till date.  But it fair to say hat about three of us received their salaries for about 9 months and have only 10 months outstanding while other have 19 months outstanding.

A former staff in Principal grade insisted that the problem with Oko staff is self inflicted right from inception in October 2001 when the three schools were housed in an uncompleted residential building which still houses the nursery and Primary schools. He alleged that a befitting school plant was erected at the extended permanent site for relocation of the staff schools before the then Governing Council took it over for other programs of the Polytechnic.

Weeping the staff said,‘’We are confused on the high level of deceit going on in the Polytechnic as we applied for jobs through a vacancy advertisement properly stated only to come in and got shortchanged in the past 13 years. We were duly appointed on the 14^th day of November , 2002 as stated in our appointment letter and were addressed by Prof Uba Nwuba, the then Rector.  He told us that there was no money to pay our salaries as we should wait until a personnel audit scheduled for January 2002 during which we would be included in the subvention (budget) for the Polytechnic. He said arrangements had been completed to pay us stipends that ranged from (N3,000 to N7,500) in accordance to our qualifications.  Surprisingly, the stipend didn’t come until month of March and when it did it was irregular.

‘’the personnel audit later came in February 2003 and we were handed post dated cheques supposed to be our salaries but they instructed us not to tender them till a later date but before the end of the Audit and maturity of the cheques we were asked to return the cheques for regularization in pretext that somebody needed to counter sign but regrettably that was the last we saw or heard anything about the cheques till date. And for 19 months no salary, it was indeed painful that we resigned  from state schools and better private and Mission schools to a Federal Polytechnic staff school but lost our glory as many went into things they never contemplated doing in life, needless mentioning them.    

‘’After 9 months , some of the teachers who came in from state schools were lucky to return to the state schools and that was the beginning of inadequacy of tutorial staff and all efforts to get our money proved abortive until last governing council came and were about resolving it before they were dissolved and our agonies continued.  The advertisement, our appointment letters , our Identity cards and our confirmation letters , our one and only promotion letter in eight years, our participation in all the Personnel audits since our employment , all showed we are staff of the Polytechnic but our salary is saying something different.

‘’it wicked that some would be disputing that we are not owed 19 months salary arrears even while we are still alive , although any have died of shock and incomprehensibility  of the situation. We are owed salaries from November 2002 to May 2004 and it has not been paid till date----13 years after but three staff received 9 months. We have evidences to that effect and we still have our appointment letters , and school results from external exams testify that as well as the Polytechnic at least must have documents showing payments made to us as well as there are those who withdrew to go back to their old jobs who still live among us.

‘’As at the last count , 11 teachers left  without replacements and created vacuum for tutorial teachers and three teachers on part time interviewed since 2008 were yet to be regularized. And it is with impunity that in 2004 monetization arrears were paid to us but we were only paid half and subsequently we were denied all forms of monetization. What a predicament and mess we found ourselves in with nobody asking questions despite our cries?  Who even called you into this case because I heard you sent a text message to the Rector and we were paid our four months arrears , please send this one to Mr President , Dr Goodluck Jonathan and Minister so that they would pay us our 19 months and differences in our 13 years salary they have embezzled.  

On pension scheme, ‘’ Imagine we all registered with the First Guarantee Pension scheme and most of us are still getting returns texted to our mobile phones. But the worst situation now is that we are being threatened with sack when all of us are above 35 years , how can we start looking for jobs now.

The new Principal , Mr Awgu not happy with the abandonment of the staff school wrote the current Rector Prof Godwin Onu again on 22^nd October 2013 entitled ‘’problems of the staff schools’’,  reminding Prof Onu that the staff are still being paid with 2007 consolidated public salary structure (CONPSS) which has been overtaken by other salary reviews , the latest being the 2011.

‘’We complain that our promotions have been unduly delayed –our last promotion was in 2009. We have not received salaries for the third month running now (but has been paid now after four months based on external intervention), as we wait for the approval of the annual subvention we get for the purpose of offsetting our salary bills . The last approval was given in 2011.

‘’We plead that we be absorbed into the Polytechnic and seconded to the staff schools . This we know will put an end to the vicious circle of salary problem of the staff schools . Since the establishment of the schools over six members have been absorbed into the Polytechnic , and we still have about same number of Polytechnic staff on secondment  to the staff schools.

On accommodation, Agwu on behalf of the staff wrote,’’ the staff school have been living with accommodation problem from inception but they seem to be growing by the day,’’ in the Primary section , the school have become almost inaccessible---parents have withdrawn their wards and new intake has equally thinned down.

‘’In the Secondary sections; we have no hall, the classrooms are only seven but they should at least 12 for us to run at least two streams. The classroom building are in such disrepair that it is not an over statement to say they are dilapidated. They are without lighting and one of them has a caved in roof , which has caused us to abandon it as it is a threat to life. The office of the Secondary Schools are frequently broken into by hoodlums who made away with valuables and even destroy children’s locker  and made away with their books and other valuables.  This is so because there exists illegal accesses to the compound which needed to be closed.

‘’Laboratories, Library and workshops are absent with the result that we run risk of being sanctioned by the examination bodies (NECO, WAEC, and EDC), the WAEC and NECO have even threatened so. Recall , sir, that we only got a temporary approval from the Ministry of Education for only 2008. This is coming to remembrance as the NECO is demanding that letter , along with an application which we have to make for Entrepreneurial studies.  Which studies must be sat for in the on coming senior schools certificate examinations? We do not have teachers for the entrepreneurial studies. We do not have teachers for the entrepreneurial studies. The Ministry of Finance is also on our tail for tax clearance which we do not have .

The schools are pleading hat they be paid with new salary structure (2011 CONPSS), approve our 2012 promotions ; approve our subventions so we can pay our salary arrears , absorb us into the Polytechnic fold seeing that up to seven of our staff are on secondement from the Polytechnic ; improve the standard of the schools in terms of accommodation , teachers and facilities as it will certainly help in population growth by providing Laboratories , Library , workshops, school hall , computer lab and provide computers system for the schools.

‘’We also wish that the old 19 months salary arrears be revisited . we are not unaware of that which you have done so far but we wish sir to put in that an eleven year old child should be secondary school ready but we have had our growth retarded by huddles cited above. Do use your good offices to wade into these problems and settle them once and for all.