The Edo State government yesterday bowed to the public pressure and cancelled the planned competence test for teachers in the state just as the government recalled the 936 teachers whose names had been deleted from the payroll over certificate discrepancies and age falsification.
Also, the government announced the immediate extention of the relativity to teachers in the state public schools.
Making the announcements yesterday, Governor Adams Oshiomhole during a meeting with the teachers’ unions and the Nigeria Labour Congress, said:
“Coming from my own background, I had obligation to restore dignity to the educational sector in the state. Basic Education is like the foundation of a house. If the foundation is weak, the building will collapse.
“The state government’s commitment to carry out competency test was informed by these broad facts having discovered that some of our teachers were not qualified or up to date with recent teaching methods. Our insistence on the fact that competency test must be seen in this light.
“However, having listened to all suggestions and consultations with various groups, Government has agreed to set aside the Competency or Assessment test in order to re assure Edo workers that government hasno intention to sack anyone.”
Instead, training and re-training for teachers and other civil servants will be introduced.
