137 Directors fail, successful ones face oral interview
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Only 207 of the 344 Directors in the civil service angling to become Principals in Unity Schools passed the examination conducted by the Education Ministry at the behest of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federal (OHCSF).
A circular issued by the Education Ministry said 137 of them failed the computer based competency test, and the 207 who passed are scheduled for oral interview.
The federal government has 110 Unity Schools – formerly called Federal Government Colleges – which include Special Schools for the gifted. They are spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Abuja had decided that from the 2022/2023 academic session, those to be appointed Principals of Unity Schools must take and pass a competency based test.
A list attached to the circular, with reference FME/S/1317/C.1/VOL.1/51 and dated 16 August 2022, said only 207 of the shortlisted 344 candidates passed the test taken last week.
“The … successful candidates in the Competency Based Test held on August 16, 2022, are expected to present themselves for oral interview,” added the circular, which was signed by David Gende, Education Ministry Human Resource Management Director, per reporting by The PUNCH.
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Applicants
A previous circular issued by the Education Ministry had shortlisted 344 applicants to take the test held in Abuja between August 16 and August 18.
The circular, with reference number FME/S/1317/C.25/ and dated 2 August, was signed by Gende on behalf of Education Minister Adamu Adamu.
Those shortlisted
- Principal Directors – 42
- Deputy Directors – 42
- Assistant Directors – 11
- Directors – 48
- Deputy Directors – 201
No nepotism
“As part of the process of improving the standard of education in our federal unity colleges, especially as it concerns the administration of schools and placement of school leaders and principals on the appropriate career stage, in line with the policy on career path for the teaching profession, management has directed that the appointment of principals should henceforth be carried out by a competency-based test from the 2022/2023 academic session,” the circular said.
“The competency-based test is to be done in two stages. The first will be a computer-based test which will be followed by an oral interview.
“Only candidates with a minimum of 60 per cent score will qualify for the next stage.
“Only candidates with a minimum of 60 per cent will be considered for appointment as principals.
“States unable to produce any candidate will have their slot allocated to another state within the same geo-political zone.”
Level playing field
Reform Education Nigeria Programmed Director Ayodamola Oluwatoyin commended the Education Ministry on the development.
“That is a brilliant move by the ministry; this will also provide a level playing field for all competent and qualified candidates.
“There will be no room for nepotism. This is a welcome development and should also be replicated at all levels of governance in the country,” he said.