The Edo State Government has announced the recruitment of 5,500 teachers as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance teaching and learning within the state’s basic education sector. This significant move aims to sustain and build on the successes of the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme, a flagship initiative launched by Governor Godwin Obaseki to reform and improve the quality of education in the state.
Addressing rumors that have been circulating about a mass layoff of teachers, the government clarified that the majority of teachers in its Edo Supporting Teachers to Achieve Results (EdoSTAR) programme, whose contracts are due to expire in April next year, have been successfully integrated into the state’s teaching workforce. These teachers were required to participate in the recent recruitment exercise, with over 75 percent of them being absorbed as permanent staff.
Speaking at an event held at the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) to provide an overview of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board’s (SUBEB) activities, the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Mrs. Ozavize Salami, disclosed that the recruitment process has been completed. She announced that the successful candidates would receive their employment letters by the following Monday.
Mrs. Salami explained that the recruitment was initiated after the state government identified significant gaps in the number of teachers across the 18 local government areas. To address this, Governor Obaseki directed the continuation of the EdoSTAR programme, which was designed to recruit individuals willing to take up teaching positions in their local communities on a part-time basis. These positions last for three years, during which the teachers receive training and are eventually considered for full-time employment.
“The EdoSTAR programme, which started in 2022, has been highly successful,” Mrs. Salami noted. “The teachers recruited under this programme have not only stayed committed to working in rural areas but have also shown great dedication. This has allowed parents and guardians to closely monitor the learning progress of their children, while the state government, through SUBEB, keeps track of the teachers’ performance using data from the teaching tablets provided to them.”
She highlighted that the EdoBEST programme, launched in 2018, has gained considerable recognition for transforming the education sector in Edo State. “Every primary school in the state is now part of the EdoBEST programme. This has enabled us to build a robust accountability system and leverage technology to enhance teaching and learning,” she said.
Regarding the recruitment of the new teachers, Mrs. Salami stated, “This exercise is part of our strategy to close the teacher gap in primary and junior secondary schools. It is another testament to Governor Obaseki’s unwavering commitment to delivering quality education to the children of Edo State.”
She further emphasized that most of the newly recruited teachers are young and energetic, which will bring fresh vigor to the existing teaching workforce. “A remarkable aspect of this recruitment is that over 70% of the EdoSTAR fellows, who were engaged as trainee teachers two years ago, have now been recruited as full-time government teachers. These teachers, who started with a minimum wage salary, have also benefited from the recent wage increase in the state, which raised their salary from N40,000 to N70,000 in May 2024.”
Newly recruited teachers expressed their enthusiasm and satisfaction with the process. Miss Ohenhen Adoye from Esan Central Local Government Area stated, “I am happy to have gone through an excellent and professional recruitment exercise to formally join the civil service. During my time as an EdoSTAR fellow, I have been diligent in my duties and have participated in various capacity-building sessions. I am excited to receive my official letter of employment.”
Another candidate, Ohirhein Augustine from Owan East Local Government Area, shared his experience, saying, “I have been an EdoSTAR fellow since 2022, and there were rumors that we would not be absorbed into the civil service after our fellowship. People were saying we would be abandoned like N-Power teachers. But now, I am thrilled to be officially joining the teaching workforce.”
The Edo State Government’s commitment to improving education through continuous teacher recruitment and training underscores its dedication to building a sustainable and effective education system for the future.
