From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Kwara State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), has announced the shortlisting of 1,800 successful applicants for teaching jobs across the state, following a rigorous three-month recruitment process.
The commission said the selection was strictly based on merit, equity and the needs of public secondary schools in all 16 local government areas of the state, without any political interference.
“This recruitment exercise is 100 percent merit-based,” the TESCOM chairman said in a statement on Sunday.
“His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq gave us a clear directive to follow due process and ensure only qualified candidates are selected. That is exactly what we did.”
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Of the 1,800 shortlisted candidates, 790 representing 44% will teach STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects. Others include 581 for core subjects, 370 for specialised fields and 59 for technical subjects.
The list also includes 31 persons living with disabilities (PLWDs), a move the commission said reflects its inclusive approach to employment.
In a bold step to uphold professionalism and ensure quality teaching, all shortlisted candidates are to undergo a compulsory drug test to be conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The tests will be supervised by the Governor’s Special Assistant on Drugs Abuse, Prevention and Control, Hon. Mukail Olamilekan Aileru.
“The Governor has fully approved the payment for the drug tests, which begin on Wednesday, April 9, to end on Saturday, April 12. The results will be sent directly to the commission by the NDLEA to prevent any form of falsification,” the statement noted.
The schedule for the drug test is organised by local governments, beginning with candidates from Baruten, Edu, Kaiama and Patigi on Wednesday. Those from other local councils will follow on subsequent days, ending with Asa and the three Ilorin local governments on Saturday.
Candidates will also be required to sign a bond agreeing not to request a transfer for at least six years. This, according to TESCOM, is to curb the shortage of teachers in rural areas and promote stability in the system.
In addition to the drug test, each shortlisted candidate is expected to present a medical certificate from a state-owned hospital, the original copies of their academic credentials and a handwritten letter of acceptance. Documentation begins alongside the drug test at the TESCOM headquarters in Ilorin.
“We appreciate all applicants who participated in this highly competitive process. This recruitment represents another milestone in transparency and inclusiveness, with jobs offered to qualified indigenes, non-indigenes and persons living with disabilities alike,” the commission stated.
Lauding Governor AbdulRazaq, the commission described him as “a rare leader” who insists on fairness and competence, adding that his stance has restored public confidence in government recruitment processes.
