By Suleiman Anyalewechi
In what will pass as an eloquent testimony to the stack reality of the unemployment problem facing the country, no fewer than 6,700 persons are jostling to fill 380 teaching positions in Enugu State.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the vacant positions were as a result of some retirements in the system.
Hilary Mgbodile, the Chairman of Enugu State Post Primary School Management Board revealed that the 6,700 persons, were shortlisted from an initial 12 000 applicants.
The shortlisted candidates were billed to sit for a qualifying examination at five centres.
According to Mgbodile, the examination centres are Union Boys Secondary School, Queen School Enugu ,Holy Rosary College ,College Of Immaculate Conception and Trans Ekulu Girls Secondary School Enugu.
The candidates he said are being tested in English Language, Information and Communication Technology, Mathematics ,Physics and Chemistry.
Giving a break down of the areas of interests of the intending teachers, Mgbodile stated that 2,000 candidates applied to teach English language.
While one thousand, seven hundred applied to handle ICT, the Board needs the services of only 80.
He, however, informed that, if at the end of the examination the required standards are not met by those currently under going the test, another set of applicants will be invited.
“We are picking the best of the lot which is the only consideration and parameter for the selection of the teachers.
“We will not lower the standard because we cannot get what we want .The recruitment is being done by PPSMB .
“But in order to reduce pressure and ensure meritocracy and absolute objectivity, we decided to seek the assistance of an independent recruiting company,” the Board Chairman stated.
Mgbodile also stated that the 6,700 candidates were selected after a preliminary screening that led to the dropping of those whose ages are above the stipulated 45 years and non indigenes of Enugu from the initial 12,000 applications.
Awaiting results applicants, as well as those who could not tender their educational certificates, according to him were also dropped”
The 380 vacancies he further stated were discovered while the Board, in line with the directive from the Governor, was posting teachers from the urban to rural areas.
“As we were doing that, we discovered that we were lacking teachers in some key subjects such as sciences and other core subjects.
“So, we made a recommendation to Governor Peter Mbah on the need to recruit teachers to fill the shortfalls”
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