Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has given the go-ahead for the recruitment of 500 teachers in the first instance in fulfillment of his campaign promise to address the shortage in most public schools in the three senatorial districts of the state.
This was announced by the newly sworn-in Commissioner for Education, Dr. Emmanuel Paddy Iyamu on Tuesday in Benin City, on resumption of duty at the state secretariat.
Dr. Iyamu, while harping on the importance placed on the education sector by Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration, revealed that the recruitment of new teachers which would be done in tranches, is meant to fill the numerous vacancies in public schools.
Stressing government’s commitment to ensuring that all public schools in Edo were adequately staffed with qualified teachers, Dr. Iyamu noted that the era of having two or three teachers in a school was gone and enjoined adequately qualified Nigerians to apply.
This recruitment, which he said would be strictly on merit, is coming barely one week after 360 persons were recruited into the core civil/public service, as against contract staff used by the immediate-past administration thus underscoring the governor’s determination to create permanent jobs.
According to Dr. Iyamu, “We are excited to let Edo people know that Senator Monday Okpebholo is a man that keeps to his words. He has given the approval for 500 teachers to be recruited into the education sector. This recruitment exercise will be in tranches, and this is the first tranche of teachers to be employed.
“This move is to ensure that the average Edo child gets the best in terms of education, even as we drive infrastructure development in the state.
“We are grateful to Mr. Governor for being a man of honour and his care for the average Edo child. A new dawn indeed is here, and a new Edo is risen.”
Calling on duly qualified candidates to make use of the official website and link to apply, Dr. Iyamu advised them against making payment to anybody or group as the application is free and recruitment would be strictly based on merit.