Competency Tests: Why Always The Teachers? -By Mohammed Oluwatimileyin Taoheed

Competency tests as the name implies are the kind of tests that are organised to consider the professional capability of teachers in Nigeria. It is a legal examination and it is stipulated under the Civil Service General Orders and Public Service Rules (G.O. and PSR) that the only qualified body that can set these aptitude tests for teachers is the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

In this article, I will analyse the details of its recent conducts in Nigerian States and elucidate the opinions of the masses on it.

In November 2017, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State conducted ample competency tests for teaching teachers in Kaduna State. Beyond the Governor’s expectation, the teachers failed woefully. It was so disheartening to the governor that he made it lucid to the teachers that they would all be sacked.

Days later, Governor Ayodele Fayose from Ekiti State (The Home of Books in Nigeria) accused El-Rufai of no fair play. “I’m warning Nigerians again, the agenda of the APC is to sack workers. They are sacking teachers in Kaduna and Buhari is supporting them”, Fayose opined. This press release divulged to the citizens that even Mr. President himself is aware of this.

“Your Excellency Sir, We are not sacking teachers in Kaduna. Rather, we are replacing unqualified people who are unfit to be called teachers to save the future of the next generation”, El-Rufai yelled back in correction.

A veteran media icon and spokesperson of the Ekiti Governor in person of Mr. Lere Olayinka opined that even Ekiti that is the best in academic field does not sack teachers anyhow and he advised El-Rufai to come and learn from them. His Twitter post reads, “In Ekiti, we did not conduct competency tests for teachers, we still made first position in NECO in 2016 and 2017. El-Rufai can come and learn from us”.

In a wrathful response to the Governor El-Rufai’s planned action, a gallant pivotal pillar from the Kaduna State Chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Audu Amba confirmed that it was a general decision of the body to commence an indefinite strike on November 23 if the government still continue to fulfill his wicked promise of dismissal of teachers.

However, El-Rufai stood his ground because it was an object of melancholy to him that 22, 000 (as alleged) couldn’t pass the common Primary Four questions set to assess them. He viewed the decision of the teachers as a mere threat and disregarded it as the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board Chairman, Nasiru Umar during a press conference announced that El-Rufai’s plan is to recruit 25, 000 new teachers in place of the one he would sack.

In the wee hours of 22nd January, 2018, it was a breaking but dejected news that Governor El-Rufai sacked the 22, 000 teachers as he had vowed earlier. This spelt doom for the dismissed teachers and the entire state was catapulted into a sorrowful stance throughout that week.

Another real account has it that Governor El-Rufai would conduct another tests for the teachers in his dear state, this was disclosed by Mohammed Mubarak who is a Permanent Member of Physical and Project Monitoring, Kaduna State Universal Basic Education on July 14th, 2021.

Reacting angrily to apoplectically to the news, Ibrahim Dalhatu signed a communique in which the teachers clarified it for the Governor that they would not sit for any nitwit test if he tried it with them this time around.

Furthermore, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State was reported to have organised an impromptu but sudden tests for teachers in Baga, a town in Kukawa Local Government. After the tests, the governor encouraged the teachers with presents of money and yards of fabrics.

Isa Gasau, the media adviser of the Governor assured that those who failed the tests would either be enrolled for further training or redeployed to the administrative department.

My question is that why is the aptitude tests only for the teachers? There are many professions that have not yet recorded a single success but the eyes of the two governments are blind to this. The teachers that El-Rufai sacked, didn’t he owe them any salary? He should consider their efforts and pardon them though with strict warnings.

Obviously, everyone in this country knows that these teachers are not well treated despite the fact that they are the bedrock of every nation. They should conduct the tests for other sectors too.
Buhari cannot be blamed for concurring to El-Rufai’s view of teachers’ dismissals because what the Governor would claim was that he intended to ensure standard education in his State as could be seen in his tweet above. Even you will heartily support this!

The statement of Lere Olayinka could be termed invective and an ordure to the sleek face of Governor El-Rufai but it was the truth. Like a paradox, it only seems absurd but has a sagacious meaning. Could El-Rufai claimed that he was the best Quantity Surveyor in Nigeria? Certainly, no! And don’t forget he had his universty degree in this discipline. Even Governor Zulum who was a Professor of Agricultural Engineering still had honchos in the field too. The two governments should have used their wealth of experience in administration to leave the teachers alone because the Holy Books made it clear that no one is perfect and omniscient except God.

Although the aptitude tests are legal as seen in the acts referred to above but in the same lane, it is ultra vires and also null and void for the Governor to conduct it. It is not his primary duty. I doubt if the questions are actually based on their professional ism.

I would advise that governments should look indepth into problems that would turn the boats of their various states down if care is not taken and leave the teachers wholly. They are trying their best, it is not easy to impart knowledge in others. If it was an easy task, Zulum would not have resigned his lecturing appointment with the University of Maiduguri.

Governments should ensure enough teaching equipment, textbooks, aids and other things for these teachers. They should organise frequent trainings, seminars and lectures for these teachers. They should adequately fund the schools so that they would feel no lack and teachers’ salaries should be paid before due regularly. This would improve them and there will no lackadaisical attitudes to work again.

“Justice and Service” as seen in NUT’s motto should be given to them. Why always the teachers?

ABOUT THE WRITER
Mohammed Oluwatimileyin Taoheed is a Nigerian bilingual writer, bard, content writer, professional editor, legal researcher, tutor, essayist, clown and online reporter from Offa, a prominent town in Kwara State.
Currently a law student of Usman Dan Fodio University Sokoto State, he is an advocate of justice. He loves to write about pathetic situations in his country. His articles and writings have won accolades in national sites.

He is currently working on his novel, “AFRICANAH” which tries to recounts the brutal experiences of teachers in the hands of their various societies in Africa.