Governor Godwin Obaseki

By Jethro Ibileke 

The Edo Government has completed the recruitment of 5,500 teachers to close the teacher gap in primary and junior secondary schools across the state.

The Chairman of Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs. Ozavize Salami, who disclosed this on Friday in Benin said it was part of the strategy to boost teaching and learning in the state’s basic schools.

She explained that out of a total of 19,931 applicants who applied, 16,038 were selected for computer-based tests and interviews.

She said: “Candidates with skills and expertise relevant to gaps in the school system were selected to fill gaps across all local government areas.

“The newly recruited teachers will undergo training and capacity building to ensure they are equipped to deliver quality education.”

According to the SUBEB chairman, Governor Godwin Obaseki’s commitment to education reform, popularly known as EdoBEST has positioned the state as a leader in Nigeria, with a focus on improving learning outcomes for approximately 400,000 children.

She described the recruitment exercise of 5,500 teachers as a significant step towards achieving this goal.

“Of this number, 1780 EdoSTAR fellows, who were engaged as trainee teachers two years ago, were recruited as full-time government teachers.

“The exercise demonstrated the state government’s commitment to investing in its teachers and providing opportunities for growth and development.

“The newly recruited teachers had been deployed to schools across the state based on the observed gap, to ensure that every child has access to quality education.

“We are confident that this recruitment will have a positive impact on teaching and learning in our basic schools,” she added.