The Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, Lydia Onuoha, has disclosed the decision of the board to begin sanctioning public school teachers following any misbehaviour.

She wanted them that misconduct, dereliction and negligence of duty will be taken up seriously and dealt with by the Public Service Rule and Teachers Code of Conduct.

The punishments would cut across official protocols of query, suspension and dismissal from duty.

This is coming after she said the government noticed some form of poor attendance and absenteeism by public school teachers in the state.

The state government therefore, according to her, frowned at such act and wouldn’t hesitate publishing whoever is caught.

In a bid, Onuoha disclosed that the state government is introducing a biometric attendance systems to monitor teachers daily on attendance.

She said, “The full weight of public service rules shall be invoked where necessary, and the government will not hesitate to act in the interest of the children and the future of our state.

“The steps include introduction of Biometric Attendance Systems in schools to monitor and track daily teachers’ presence and punctuality.”

She further disclosed that the government would partner with the LG education authorities and local management committee to roll out a monitoring and enforcement strategy.

Unannounced visits and audits across public primary and junior secondary schools, and submission of monthly attendance reports by Head Teachers to their respective Local Government Education Authorities and ASUBEB for review, is included in the ways the state government has planned to fish out poor performing teachers.

“These acts of misconduct are unacceptable and gross breach of professional ethics, public service rules and betrayal of the trust reposed in educators.

“They are a discredit to the commitment of the administration of Governor Alex Otti to the welfare of teachers,” she stated.

So, as a way to protect the government of Otti, the administration under him has discovered means of tackling some of the issues affecting education in the state.

“Teachers’ promotions, which were long overdue, have been approved with leave allowance while 27.5 per cent of teachers’ special salary has also been actualised,” she added.