By: Ugochukwu Benson
The governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Delta State, Engr. Isaac Eshor, has unveiled an ambitious education reform agenda, promising free education from primary to secondary school level and a ₦50,000 monthly special allowance for teachers if elected governor.
Eshor made the pledge during an interactive session with Journalists and Community Newspaper Publishers in Asaba, where he described education as the foundation of sustainable development and the key to building a prosperous Delta State.
The AAC flag bearer lamented the deteriorating condition of public schools across the state, blaming years of neglect, inadequate infrastructure, and poor welfare packages for the challenges facing the education sector.
According to him, many teachers work in difficult and unconducive environments, lacking basic facilities such as classrooms, furniture, electricity, and teaching materials.
Our teachers operate under harsh conditions. In many schools, there are no chairs, tables, electricity, or conducive classrooms. It is difficult to expect excellent results when teachers are not adequately supported, Eshor said. He noted that private schools continue to attract more students because they offer better learning environments and improved welfare conditions for their staff.
Describing teachers as the backbone of society, Eshor stressed that every profession depends on the efforts of teachers, yet many educators have been subjected to poor remuneration and neglect.
Without teachers, there can be no doctors, engineers, lawyers, nurses, or other professionals. Unfortunately, many teachers have been pushed into hardship, making it difficult for them to give their best, he added.
To address the situation, Eshor pledged that every public primary and secondary school teacher in Delta State would receive a special monthly allowance of ₦50,000 in addition to their regular salaries. He disclosed that his administration would also introduce teacher-focused welfare programmes, including housing schemes, grants, and soft car loans aimed at restoring dignity and pride to the profession.
The AAC candidate further expressed concern over the plight of retired teachers, alleging that many are still awaiting payment of their pensions years after retirement.
It is unacceptable that retired teachers who dedicated their lives to shaping future generations are still struggling to access their pensions. Such injustice must end, he stated.
As part of his education blueprint, Eshor promised free education from primary to secondary school level, including free school uniforms and free textbooks for pupils and students in public schools.
He argued that quality education remains the most effective tool for reducing poverty, unemployment, and social inequality, adding that investment in education would yield long-term benefits for the state.
Eshor assured Deltans that prudent management of the state’s resources would make the implementation of the programme achievable, while significantly improving learning standards and educational outcomes.
He maintained that investing in teachers is ultimately an investment in the future of Delta State, stressing that a motivated teaching workforce would produce better students and drive sustainable development across the state.