News: Kaduna State Government To Disengage 21,780 Teachers

The Kaduna State government will disengage 21,780 teachers for incompetency, it was learnt yesterday.

Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Nasiru Umar, said at a news conference yesterday, that any teacher who failed the primary four test should approach the committee raised to look into their complaints. Their scripts could be re-marked, he added.

Of the 33,00 primary school teachers who sat for the examination, 21,780 failed.

However, the Kaduna State Executive Council approved the outcome of the competency test, and directed that 25,000 teachers be recruited.

Umar explained that applicants must have relevant certificates, including one from the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

He reiterated that the exercise has no political undertone, saying the government’s concern was to revive education, especially in rural areas.

Ciroma added that those who failed the test can apply and undergo the recruitment process.

His words: “Thirty-three thousand primary school teachers sat for the competency tests agreed upon by stakeholders, including Nigeria Union of teachers (NUT). Twenty-one thousand, seven hundred and eighty scored below 75 per cent. We conducted the test because we discovered that schools were in bad shape. Some teachers cannot speak English.

“We started training them but we discovered they won’t improve. We released names of those who scored 75 and above. Those who failed will get three months’ notice for disengagement. All teachers, including those who failed the test, should resume work tomorrow (today) and wait further directives.

“Those above five years will be retired, but those below will be disengaged. Those who failed can still apply in the recruitment.

“We should not bring politics into education; we presented the results to the committee involving the NUT, TRCN and others. The NUT wanted the pass mark to be 60. All stakeholders were involved in the test.”

Source: The Nation