No test, no pay, Oshiomole tells Edo teachers

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says any public school teacher who has not undergone the assessment test for teachers will not remain on the payroll of the government.According to report by NAN

Oshiomhole made the announcement on Wednesday in Benin when he received the report of the Teachers Assessment Committee, led by Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor, a former Vice-Chancellor of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

He said there was no going back on the teachers’ assessment, “as the exercise is beyond politics.

“There is no stopping the teachers’ assessment.

“The exercise has something to do with our education system, our children and the future of the entire state. So it is essential for all.”

He noted that the essence of governance was for political leaders to be able to drive change and take difficult decisions.

Oshiomhole stressed that the objective and focus of government on the exercise would not be compromised, adding that government had the political will to deal with the issue.

The governor while commending the team for doing a thorough job, stated that the report of the team would help government in managing issues arising from the assessment test.

Oshiomhole, however, said that government would re-strategise and invite the team back to conduct another assessment of teachers, who had yet to be tested.

Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Agbonlahor, while presenting the report, advised that teachers who refused to be assessed should be encouraged to do so.

He also advised the State Government to train teachers who had undergone the test.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the test was conducted on March 22, across the state.

NAN reports that prior to the exercise, the National Union of Teachers and the Academic Staff Union of Universities had obtained separate court injunctions, restraining the State Government from conducting the test.