Edo Teachers Embark On Protest As Govt Plans Competency Test

Primary school teachers in Edo State have kicked against the state’s plan to organise a competency test for them.

The teachers stormed Auchi, Etsako-West Local Council of Edo State in protest, rejecting the government’s call.

The government had fixed Feb. 8 as date for the competency test for all primary and secondary school teachers across the state, according to a report by the  News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The government came up with the test following the sacking of 836 teachers by the government in 2013, due to falsification of age and certificate forgery, among others.

Mr Mike Uhunwangho, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Edo Chapter, who spoke on behalf of the teacher said that teachers would not participate in the competency test.

He said the protest was being carried out across the state, adding that teachers would not be subjected to the test.

“We are unanimously rejecting the call by the Edo State Government to have us write a fresh competency test to determine our suitability for teaching jobs in the state.

“We have directed all the teachers not to attend any form of competency test nor accept any letter from anybody inviting them for the test,’’ he said.

Uhunwangho said that teachers who had spent years in the profession, cannot be subjected by the government to the competency test.

The NUT chairman said that instead of being subjected to the test, the government should embark on training and re-training of teachers, to enable them update their knowledge and skills, for effective teaching.

“Government needs to train teachers and equip them with new skills and ideas, to enable them to be able to perform their duties adequately,’’ he said.