By Stephen Adeleye
Lokoja – The Kogi State Government on Wednesday commenced oral interview for candidates that scaled through in the Aptitude test conducted for applicants seeking teaching jobs in secondary schools in the state.
Addressing the candidates at GYB Model Science Secondary School, Lokoja, the State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, congratulated them for making it to the oral interview stage.
He thanked the governor for given the ministry the freedom to conduct teachers’ recruitment exercise that was thorough, open, transparent, participatory and all encompassing.
The commissioner stressed that the recruitment processes had been transparent without any form of political influence.
”We need to fill 3, 979 positions but about 17, 485 applied. 6,900 candidates were shortlisted for aptitude test out of which 3100 passed by scoring 40 per cent and above.
”So, it is the 3100 candidates that will be called for the oral interview across the 21 local government areas of the state.
”Our plan is to interview not more than 500 candidates per day which will last till next week Tuesday, including Saturday,” he said
He added that 1, 579 teachers would be recruited in the first phase out of the 3100 to be interviewed.
He noted that the invited candidates for Wednesday were those who applied for Animal Husbandry, Economics, Mathematics, Chemistry and Food and Nutrition, who scored 40 per cent and above in the aptitude test.
The commissioner disclosed that the candidates would be interviewed based on work experience, appearance, communication skills and quality of response to questions.
He urged those who scored 40 per cent and above and yet to receive interview letters not to worry, assuring that they would surely get their letters before Tuesday, October 18, 2022.
He urged the candidates to conduct themselves very well and not to be unruly.
”I wish you well and I pray that at the end of the day, we shall all laugh and congratulate ourselves,” he said.
One of the candidates, Mrs Joy Adeiza, who spoke to our Correspondent, commended the state government and the ministry for ensuring a transparent recruitment exercise.