NEWS LEVERAGE

In a move aimed at bolstering the education sector, the Abia State Government has approved a new phase of its Teachers’ Recruitment Exercise. This initiative seeks to engage more qualified educators and establish a comprehensive database of trained teachers to better meet the demands of the state’s growing educational needs.

The announcement was made by Prince Okey Kanu, the State’s Commissioner for Information, during a briefing to the press following the Executive Council Meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti. He explained that the recruitment exercise is essential due to the increasing enrollment of pupils and students in public schools, a result of the state’s policy of free and compulsory education for primary and junior secondary school levels.

The exercise will take place across three key locations: Aba for Abia South, Umuahia for Abia Central, and Ohafia for Abia North. Between April 10 and April 19, over 2,200 teachers will undergo training by the Education Reformation and Innovation Team (ERIT) across the three senatorial zones. This training is aimed at enhancing teaching standards and improving student learning outcomes across the state.

Prince Kanu further revealed that the state government has completed the final selection phase of the recruitment, which involved over 7,000 candidates who scored 45 percent and above. Special provisions have also been made for 180 candidates with disabilities. Those who scored between 40 and 44 percent have been placed on a reserve list to fill any vacancies arising from absenteeism or disqualification.

In addition to the recruitment updates, Kanu issued a stern warning to school principals and administrators who are still collecting unauthorized school fees and levies despite the state’s policy of free education for primary and junior secondary school students. He stressed that such actions must cease immediately.

The Commissioner for Basic Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, added that the recruitment will particularly target technical and vocational education, where teacher shortages are most severe. He noted that many individuals with expertise in fields like basic electricity and further mathematics lack formal teaching qualifications, a challenge the ministry is working to address.

Ubochi also clarified that the state’s free education policy applies only to primary and junior secondary education, covering students from Primary 1 to Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3). For students in Senior Secondary Schools, a reduced fee of N3,300 will be collected, a significant reduction from previous tuition charges.