The competency test ordered by Edo government for teachers in public schools recorded low turn-out, as many teachers refused to participate in the exercise which held on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the test was scheduled to hold simultaneously in the three senatorial districts of the state.
When a correspondent of NAN visited the University of Benin, one of the venues at 11.30 a.m. only 73 teachers were accredited.
Mr Akinade Ojo, the Secretary, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Edo Chapter, told newsmen that teachers were directed to boycott the test.
“Six thousand primary school teachers were expected to present themselves for the test in Edo South, and from record less than 100 teachers were present for the test,’’ he said
Mr Olayiwola Afolabi, counsel to Academic Staff Union of Secondary School (ASSUS) Edo Chapter, said that the union obtained a court order stopping the test.
“If they go ahead with the test, we will file contempt charges against the government of Edo ” Afolabi said.
Mr Washington Osifo, the Commissioner for Higher Education, said that government was not aware of any court injunction stopping the state government from conducting the test.
“Government is set to conduct the assessment test. Nobody will force anybody to do what is right. The test is in the interest of the teachers and Edo children.
“We are not aware of any restraining order stopping the test. An attempt to get an order does not in itself translate to an order stopping the conduct of the test,” Osifo said.(NAN)
