NUT Leader Backs Competency Test For Teachers

A former vice chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Edo State, Mr Mamud Umar, has supported the introduction of competency test for primary school teachers by the state government.

Umar said yesterday in Auchi, Etsako West Local Council, that it would assess the intellectual capacity of the teachers and encourage them to be more alive to their responsibilities.

The state government had fixed Jan. 11 as date for the competency test for all primary school teachers across the state.

The competency test is coming on the heel of the sack of 836 teachers by the government in 2013 due to falsification of age and certificates forgery among others.

“The proposed competency test for primary school teachers across Edo State is necessary and timely due to the poor teaching standard by some teachers in the state. “The test is a platform to discover those who have the knowledge to teach the children,’’ he added.

Umar, however, wondered why the governmet restricted the test to only primary school teachers.

“I am not denying the fact that there is need for a test, but the manner it was introduced and restricted to only primary school teachers is suspicious,’’ he said.

The former NUT official called for the continous training and re-training of teachers in the state to enable them update their knowledge and skills for effective teaching.

“Government needs to train teachers and equip them with new skills and ideas to enable them perform their duties adequately,’’ he said.