The Kwara State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) has invited an additional 180 applicants who sat the computer-based test (CBT) for a make-up interview to address staffing shortages in specific subject areas and across 15 local government areas (LGAs).

The interviews are scheduled to commence at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 26 March 2025, at the TESCOM headquarters in Ilorin. This initiative forms part of the final stage of the ongoing teacher recruitment process, aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of qualified educators across the state.

TESCOM’s decision to call for the make-up interviews reflects efforts to strengthen educational provision in underserved areas, particularly in subjects requiring urgent staffing. Successful candidates will be selected based on merit and the needs of Kwara’s schools.

“This is a makeup exercise which affects all but Ilorin West Local Government Area. Our analysis shows that some local governments have shortfalls in a few subject areas such as Chemistry, English Language, Mathematics, Islamic Studies, Christian Studies, History, Physics, Geography, French, and Yoruba, Commerce, and we need to screen some of the applicants who meet the basic requirements from the CBT to take up their slots. It is basically about marrying merit, equity, and realities for the overall benefit of the state,” according to the TESCOM Chairman.

“Those being invited are coming under special considerations to fill the slots of their local government areas in the subject areas without jeopardising due process and competence. For instance, a few of the supplementary invitees scored between 45 and 59, as against the 60 cutoff for those initially invited for the first interview. Some of them, however, scored 60 and above in the CBT, but are either above 35 or had graduated with third class degree(s) in relevant subject areas. The initial requirement was first and second class relevant university degrees.

“For the purpose of clarity, the spread of the 180 invitees is as follows: Asa (4); Baruten (20); Edu (11); Ekiti (22); Ifelodun (3); Ilorin East (2); Ilorin South (16); Ilorin West (0); Irepodun (7); Isin (6); Kaiama (30); Moro (9); Offa (13); Oke Ero (20); Oyun (7); Patigi (10).”