Royal fathers, others back Oshiomhole on competency test for teachers

(Nigeria) Stakeholders at a town hall meeting on education in Edo State, have thrown their weight behind plans by the state government to conduct a test for teachers in the state to assess their levels of competence.

Participants at the town hall meeting, at the Imaguero College Hall, Benin City, Tuesday, include traditional rulers, non-governmental organisations, clergymen, civil society groups, market women and other stakeholders were of the view government’s huge investment in the rebuilding of schools would be a waste if there were no competent teachers to handle the pupils.

The Onojie of Opoji, His Royal Highness, Ehidiamen 1, said the government should not compromise in sanitizing the education sector in the state.

He noted that education is the fulcrum of development in any society, and urged the governor to flush out unqualified teachers from the system in the interest of the pupils, stressing that true union leaders would not support unqualified teachers.

Also the Onojie of Igueben, commended the governor for initiating the competency test to assess the suitability of teachers in the state.

He said “I do not see why a teacher should be afraid to face simple assessment. Those who are not qualified to teach our children should be thrown out of the system. I think you are doing the right thing and need our support.”

In his remark, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri said “we fully endorse all you are doing in regard to the competency test. What the governor has been saying is in the interest of the people. He has the right to protect the interest of the Edo people. So far you have not done anything wrong in this enterprise.

“After the incident of the lady who couldn’t read her own affidavit, what has the NUT done to do an in-house cleaning to weed out incompetent teachers from its midst?

“Teachers are not the only people who voted for Adams Oshiomhole, we, the parents of the students they teach also voted for the Governor and the future of our children is of great concern to us, and the Governor has the right to protect our interest.

“The Governor has done nothing so far. He has engaged the NUT, civil societies and now this Town Hall meeting. The teachers should not abuse their right to strike and demonstrate. They are not the only stakeholders in the education sector. We are also stakeholders. The child who is playing outside should know he is not the owner of the field. Teachers are not the owners of the state.”

Chief Edebiri who lamented that NUT decided to boycott the Town Hall meeting when a matter affecting their union and members is being discussed suggested that some royal fathers and chiefs from across the state be selected to join, as observers, in the next meeting between government and labour unions on the issue of the competency test.

The Isekhure of Benin Kingdom, Chief Nosakhare Isekhure, said the competency test has become inevitable because of the rot in the school system, but however suggested the formation of a local supporting committee that would monitor the activities of the schools and report to the ministry.

The former Vice Chamcellor of Ambrose All University, Professor Dennis Agbonlahor, said “in my 12 years as Vice Chancellor, my heart bleeds when I see the number of children with poor foundation. What you are doing now is that you are endorsing good foundation for Edo children”

He advised the Governor to engage in continued dialogue with the teachers to ensure that everyone is carried along and called for unbiased examiners and educationists to conduct the test.

The spokesperson of the market women Mrs Blakie Omoregie, said “teachers who teach our children test the children at the end of the term to determine those that can be promoted. The police also do tests before promotion, why are the teachers refusing to do the test.

“They go to different markets when they are supposed to be in the classroom. Some of them even use certificates that are not theirs. If they are not ready to do the test, they should be ready to quit the system.”

Other speakers at the event agreed that there is need to overhaul the inspectorate division of the Ministry of Education, adding that the state government should put in place stringent measures to prevent saboteurs from subverting the exercise.

Speaking earlier, Governor Adams Oshiomhole had informed the stakeholders of government efforts to reposition the education sector.

He said “schools have been built across the three senatorial districts and government has been making the right investment on the physical infrastructure. Basic education is the right of the child, hence the Federal Government’s law on the Universal Basic Education is not only free but compulsory.

“Over the past five years, outside road and erosion control, the highest allocation have consistently gone to education, and over the years, in our recurrent expenditure at state and local levels, the highest allocation has gone to the education sector,” he said.

Oshiomhole noted that “the exercise is not to witch-hunt or downsize the workforce but to ensure that the huge investments made in the education sector is justified.”

The Governor who said the exercise would be devoid of all political undertones announced the nomination of Professor Dennis Agbonlahor as the chairman of the Independent Assessors.