TEACHERS’ RECRUITMENT PROCESS IN ANAMBRA

The National Policy on Education (2004) stated that no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers. Educationists, policymakers, and parents in Nigeria hold the view that good teachers produce good students.

Formerly, successive governments have always recruited teachers in Anambra State at least at the end of their four-years tenure to fill the gaps of retired, retrenched and resigned teachers in public schools. It was a settlement plan and a favour-driven nepotism through which ward councillors, council chairmen, state assembly law-makers, directors in ministries, permanent secretaries, traditional rulers, political bigwigs and other highly paced individuals and government functionaries tend to feather their nest and their cronies. Luckily for Anambra State, a former governor of Central Bank and a renowned professor of Economics took over the government on 17^th March 2022 restoring due process, hard work, integrity, merit, and quality assurance in every bureaucratic process of his government.

Notably, Anambra State has taken a significant step towards improving the quality of education by implementing a rigorous teacher recruitment process. This process is designed to attract and hire highly qualified and motivated teachers who can provide students with the best possible learning experience. 

Barely six months in office, Prof. C. C Soludo initiated a recruitment process for 5000 teachers in which over 40,000 graduates applied online in 2022. It was a free for all opportunity as long as you are qualified and successful in the online examination which did not consider tribe, origin or parentage. That recruitment process was first of its kind in Nigeria and could only be witnessed in advanced technologies of the developed countries. The rigorous process involved identifying, attracting, screening, shortlisting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and onboarding employees. It always starts early with CBT examinations to be taken at every stage whereby low-performers are dropped and the best brains shortlisted.

Heartily and warmly, the successful candidates in the last phase of 2022 recruitment process had an improved attractive salary with all their expenses throughout the phases covered and taken care of by the government. Incidentally, a new recruitment process started in September 2023 after the commencement of free primary and secondary education in Anambra State. It is part of the efforts to provide quality education and ensure that qualified teachers take up the mandate to reposition public schools in the state. The 2023/2024 recruitment is still at the screening stage with over 30,000 applicants for both primary and secondary schools which is organized through Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) and Post-Primary School Service Commission (PPSSC). The teaching job is specifically for the suitably qualified candidates possessing B. ED, BSC, B.A (ED) and NCE in Sciences and Languages.

Significantly, the Anambra State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) has harped on PGDE for candidates with HND and possession of TRCN as a good indication. This is geared towards providing accessible and quality education as the foundation for the future. Prof. Soludo is set to employ a minimum of additional 3000 teachers to be posted exclusively to public schools as part of his agenda to reposition public schools and deliver quality teaching and learning in public schools.

Obviously, the quality of teachers is pivotal in shaping the standard of education. If the student fails to learn, then the teacher has not taught well. Highly qualified teachers contribute to a richer learning environment. Skilled teachers adapt their approaches to cater to diverse learning styles, ensuring a more inclusive and effective educational experience. Quality teachers recognize the unique needs of each student. Beyond academic knowledge, teachers impart essential values, ethics, and life skills, influencing students’ overall development. Quality teachers stay abreast of new educational methods and technologies, ensuring that their teaching practices remain current and effective.

Obiotika Wilfred Toochukwu,

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church

 Awgbu