Only 600 applicants pass Nasarawa teachers recruitment screening

The Nasarawa State government has said that only 600 out of the 8,000 applicants who took part in the screening exercise for teaching jobs in rural areas of the state passed the examination.

The government had planned to recruit 1,000 teachers to improve staffing in rural primary schools. Although about 10,000 people applied, only 8,000 took part in the screening.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, said the number of successful candidates fell well below the state’s target.

“Out of the 8,000 that participated, only 600 passed the examination. That is actually below the number the government is looking for,” he said.

He explained that the consulting firm handling the screening had completed its assignment and handed the process back to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), which is now reviewing the results before the final recruitment.

Ahemba warned members of the public against anyone claiming they could secure teaching jobs through unofficial channels.

“There will be no room whatsoever for any sharp practices as far as this recruitment exercise is concerned,” he stated.

He added that the SUBEB chairman, Dr Kassim Muhammad Kassim, had been directed to ensure that only qualified candidates were employed.

According to him, all successful applicants will be posted to rural communities where there is a shortage of teachers.

Ahemba said the administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule is determined to improve the quality of education in rural schools by recruiting competent teachers through a transparent process.

He also announced that the state government had approved the construction of three-storey classroom blocks in each of the state’s three senatorial districts—Keffi, Akwanga and Lafia.

He added that the Federal Government had also approved the construction of model schools across the three senatorial districts in recognition of Nasarawa State’s efforts to improve primary education.