Once again, teachers and state governments are on a collision course over improvement in the former's working conditions. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has indicated that only the implementation of the Teachers Salary Scale (TSS) would head off another strike.
Most governors claim their states lack the resources with which to implement the TSS. But what percentage of a state's allocation is being spent on education? As we argued here on July 21, 2008 - during a nationwide teachers' strike - the teachers deserve their own salary scale. "Every state can pay the TSS comfortably. Money lost to corruption in public offices can pay the teachers 10 times over." Before things boil over again, government should make a pronouncement on the future of education in the country. It has not provided answers to the questions we asked here on June 23, last year: "Will it continue to fund education or not? Should private schools be outlawed?"
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