By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN — Teachers in public primary and secondary schools in Edo State who failed to submit themselves for the assessment test organised by the state government may have their names deleted from the state’s payroll, says Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Speaking, yesterday, while receiving the report of the exercise from the Teachers’ Assessment Committee, led by Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor, former Vice Chancellor, Ambrose Alli University, Oshiomhole said: “I can readily tell you that no teacher will remain in the pay roll of Edo State Government if we have not assessed him and are convinced that he is indeed a fit and proper person to be entrusted with the classroom or the particular subject which our pupils are asked to learn.

“This, for us, is not politics. It is to stress the essence of governance and prepare our kids for the future, for the inevitable role they have to play. Flipping through the report, it is clear that you did a thorough job, painstakingly analyzing all the issues like elder statesmen and good educationists. In spite of the harassment and subtle threat, you remained focused on the assignment and in the end, you have come out with a report that, I believe, will help us to have greater insight into the challenge of managing an efficient and reliable primary and secondary education.

“Even more importantly, you have ideas of what we have to do with the outcome and you gave a set of options. I believe in the innocent children whose future is an issue as well as their parents and guardians, their spirits and their wishes to prepare the children for the future. Our God will reward you for helping to advise on how best we can help to protect their future.”