Edo laments shortage of mathematics, literature teachers

The Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr Joan Osa-Oviawe, has disclosed that out of the over 12,0000 applicants that applied for its ongoing teaching recruitment, only 700 have applied for Mathematics and English literature subjects.

The commissioner disclosed this over the weekend after a meeting with the Acting Provost and Student Union Government of the Igueben College of Education over a protest on the ongoing restructuring of the three campuses of the institution.

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She said, “We are recruiting teachers now for secondary schools, over 12,000 applicants have applied, but the number that applied for Mathematics is not up to 500 and English literature is not up to 200. The vast majority of the application so far submitted are in economics and government and the reason is lack of planning.”

She said it was on that basis the government is reforming pre-serving teacher education in the State and that before the reform in 2017, it has directed that all campuses phase out their existing students.

“That is what led to the repelling of the law that established the whole colleges of education and new colleges were created, re-organising the schools. In the past, every college offered all the programmes in early childhood and special child education.

“The new law has already established three colleges; the College of Education Igueben, Abudu and Afuze. Each of them has its own speciality unlike in the past when the colleges offer all subjects.

“Igueben College of education (main campus) will focus on training of science, technical and vocational teachers; Abudu will focus on early childhood and basic education teachers; while Afuze will focus on physical, health and special education,” she said

Moreso, she said that a lot of investments have already gone into the restructuring of the school and that they are not going to allow unnecessary mischief to derail their efforts.

She assured the students, however, that moving forward, the government would engage them directly and ensure that the remaining part of their educational experience at the school was a pleasant one.

The Commissioner also explained the concern of the students as regards whether the year II and III will graduate or their education will be truncated had been resolved.

While apologising to students, she attributed the protest to lack of proper communication between the student and management, assuring that going forward they will engage the students directly on issues concerning the school.

Earlier, the president student of the Student Union Government, Famous Akiowu, attributed the protest to the decision of the management to cancel the admission of all the year one students and close the school for restructuring.

He noted that all efforts to seek clarification from the relevant quarters proved abortive as none of the letters written were attended to.