·50 first class graduates get TESCOM jobs

·Exercise transparent, first of its kind, says NUT

Kwara State Government on Thursday exhaustively briefed stakeholders on the recruitment exercise for teaching jobs in the basic classes and senior secondary schools across the state amid commendations from teachers’ body, community leaders, and academics over the unprecedentedly transparent nature of the exercise.

Applicants meanwhile are to check their portals from Tuesday April 27 to know their status, with the successful ones printing their employment letters online ahead of full documentation with the State Universal SUBEB and Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) headquarters.

At least 50 first class university graduates made the list of successful applicants for the TESCOM category, the government said.

Speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting in Ilorin, the state capital, SUBEB Chairman Prof Shehu Raheem Adaramaja said the exercise was merit-based and totally devoid of partisan sentiments as Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq had insisted that the process of recruiting teachers must prioritise only the right qualification and competence.

He said the recruitment team adhered to the criteria stated in the advertorial, ensured that the process was anchored on the needs assessment earlier conducted by the two agencies across the 16 local government areas, and accommodated the diversity of the state, including people living with disabilities.

“The import of this presentation is for the stakeholders to know what went down throughout the exercise and what teaching slots will be going to what local government and for what reasons. We gave priority to applicants of Kwara origins but we also considered non-Kwarans with exceptional performances as well as people living with disabilities,” he added.

"This exercise was purely based on merit and, at the end of our selection process for SUBEB, we found out that there are 94 NCE distinctions, 989 credit, 64 upper credit, 1,502 merit and 12 lower credit among the successful applicants. We didn't consider those with pass in NCE at all for SUBEB jobs.

“For TESCOM jobs, out of several applicants for the jobs, we got 50 first class graduates in different disciplines. Five applicants with distinctions (polytechnic graduates), 849 second class upper division, 23 upper credits (polytechnic), 987 second class lower division, and 21 lower credit (polytechnic). We also did not consider those with pass.”

Stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Teachers, took turns to commend the administration for etching its name in gold by ensuring that the process was transparent, strictly merit-based, and a clear departure from the past.

Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi Salihu, said education sector is not a sector to play with, thanking the state Governor for his commitment to due process and merit.

"Education sector is not a sector you play with. If you want to change the narratives, then you must do it like this. That is why you could not see any political influence in the exercise because the government recognised that we must not play with the future of our children,” he said.

He commended the Prof. Adaramoja-led team for coming out best on the assignment, even as he lauded the vision of the Governor on how to regain the lost glory in the sector.

NUT Chairman in the state Comrade Olu Adewara said the level of transparency adopted by the committee represents the sincere focus of this government to lay a good foundation for the future of the state, saying the efforts show that the state is currently blessed with the right people and right leader.

"The hour of confession and appreciation has come. The hour has come because at a time, we were crying and saying all sorts of things in defence of our people who were disengaged, asking questions why our members (sunset teachers) had to be laid off unceremoniously. We said so many things that we are not going to repeat here today because of what we have seen. This is unprecedented. To God be the glory, Kwara is today blessed with right people starting from His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq," he said.

The APC Chairman Kwara State, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari, described the process as unique and a departure from the norms of favouritism that hitherto marred the education system in the state.

“What we have seen here shows Kwara is a new place. With this level of thoroughness and transparency, there is nothing to be said anymore. It is simply the best way to go to begin to build a greater future,” Samari said.

He enjoined the TIC chairmen across the sixteen LGAs in the state to engage in reorientation of people against going back to old ways of using political influence to secure jobs at the expense of merit.

While speaking on behalf of the chairmen of Transition Implementation Committee, the Chairman Ifelodun local government Mr Jide Asonibare observed that the exercise went down well in history and signals the impressive pace the state will attain its heights. He congratulated the candidates that made the final list, asking them to reciprocate with good performance in the classrooms.

Chairperson of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in Kwara State Dr. Salah Abdulbaqi commended the state government for the transparent and well-structured exercise recruitment which she said was a departure from the past.

"I want to thank the state government for embarking on this rigorous recruitment exercise. So, I want to emphasis the need for monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the new teachers do not derail,” she added.

The session was also attended by top academics, education sector experts, community leaders, and representatives of civil society and professional groups, including Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication, Mekunu Agenda, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Kwara Must Change, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Awareness Initiative for Good Living, Freelance & Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN), and the National Association of Veteran Journalists.