The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB) said it has sacked 2,357 teachers who refused to sit or failed a competency test conducted by Board.
KADSUBEB had in a statement issued by spokesperson, Hauwa Mohammed, said the Board conducted a competency test for over 30,000 teachers in Dec. 2021.
She said 2,192 primary school teachers including the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) had been dismissed for refusing to sit for the competency test, while 165 teachers out of the 27,662 teachers who sat for the test were sacked due to poor performance.
According to the board, “Following the state government’s resolution for continued assessment of teachers to ensure better delivery of learning outcomes for pupils, KADSUBEB conducted another competency test for the teachers in December 2021.
“The services of teachers who scored below 40 percent are no longer required and their appointments have been terminated from the public service for their poor performances. Teachers who scored 75 per cent and above were recognised as those who passed the test and qualified for attending courses in leadership and school management.”
Hauwa said qualified teachers will be included in Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programmes to enhance their capacities to deliver quality teaching to pupils, The Trumpet gathered.
“Teachers who scored between 40 and 74 percent did not meet up with the minimum pass mark, they will be given a second chance to improve their capacities.
“KADSUBEB has initiated viable training programmes for teachers under its statutory TPD with support from the state government and development partners.
“The training programmes will be conducted during the end of term vacation and in their respective schools, to minimise disruptions of teaching and learning. They are also encouraged to complement the government’s efforts and seek personal development for their own good.
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“The board is assuring teachers and the public that it remains committed to ensuring their continuous professional development and the improvement of the learning outcomes of pupils and students,” she said.
However, Kaduna State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Ibrahim Dalhatu, has described the competency test conducted by the state government as well as the sack of 2,357 teachers as illegal.
He said the teachers’ union in the state had earlier secured a court order restraining the board from conducting the test but they went ahead to conduct it without recourse to the rule of law.
According to him, the NUT in the state asked the teachers not to write the examination after learning that the intent was to sack them but some went ahead to write the examination out of fear.
“We asked the teachers not to write the examination after learning that the intent was to sack them.We warned that any teacher who participates in the illegal examination would not be protected by the union if victimised but some of the teachers went ahead to write the examination out of fear.”
“We are not against the conduct of the competency test if due process is followed, but it should not be used as a basis for sacking teachers.The competency test should be used to determine teachers’ capacity gap and tailored specific training programmes to improve their capacities,” he said.
