A visually impaired educationist in Akwa Ibom State, Onodiong Usen, says he was excluded from the state government’s teaching appointments despite scoring 80 per cent in the civil service Computer-Based Test (CBT) and answering the question put to him during the oral interview.
Mr Usen, 37, said he was particularly disappointed because he expected his performance to earn him an appointment after meeting the minimum requirement for the oral interview.
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Mr Usen has taken to Facebook, where he is appealing for Governor Umo Eno’s intervention.
His complaint comes against the backdrop of the state government’s earlier declaration that the recruitment exercise was designed to be transparent and merit-driven.
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Leadership newspaper reported that 37,314 people applied for the civil service recruitment, 33,461 sat for the CBT, while 12,502 candidates who scored at least 50 per cent qualified for the oral interview.
The government also said persons with disabilities were given additional time to take the examination.
However, Mr Usen says his performance was not reflected in the final selection.
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“I was the only physically challenged person who scored up to 80 marks”
Mr Usen told PREMIUM TIMES that 50 per cent was the cut-off mark for candidates to proceed to the verbal interview.
“The government had announced that those who scored 50 and above in the CBT will be qualified to move to the next phase: Oral interview. 50 was the cut-off mark.
“I did excellently well in the oral interview. I was asked only one question – what is a cell? And I answered it. My credentials are okay.”
He said his disappointment was heightened by the appointment of another visually impaired candidate who, according to him, participated in the same interview panel.
“Why I am upset is that there is another visually impaired person who got the job but did not answer the interview question because we were facing the same panel,” he said, a claim this newspaper cannot independently verify.
“My own credentials are better than his in terms of grades, and he did not score up to 80 marks, which I scored in the CBT, although he scored above the 50-mark cut-off point. But he has been given an appointment, which is the discrimination that is upsetting me.”
Mr Usen said he could not determine how many persons with disabilities participated in the CBT but believed only a few reached the oral interview stage.
“I was the only physically challenged person who scored up to 80 marks in the CBT.”
His CBT result, reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES, shows he was assessed in Verbal Reasoning, Basic Computer Skills and Current Affairs, scoring 80 per cent and received an “Excellent” remark.
On the result slip he received, he was congratulated for completing the assessment. Further information on the slip stated that, based on his performance, he “might be shortlisted for the next stage – a verbal interview to further assess your suitability for the role you applied for.”
Government figures raise questions
The government’s figures provide important context to Mr Usen’s complaint.
In announcing the 12,502 candidates shortlisted for oral interviews, Commissioner for Science and Digital Economy, Frank Ekpenyong, said only one person with disability scored at least 60 per cent, while two candidates from the general pool scored as high as 90 per cent. Persons with disabilities were also reportedly allowed one hour, compared with the standard 40 minutes for the CBT.
The government subsequently proceeded with the verbal interview exercise, which was presented as part of an effort to ensure merit and transparency in civil service recruitment.
Mr Usen’s claim that he scored 80 per cent therefore raises a question about the government’s reported figure concerning candidates with disabilities and whether his result was included in that assessment.
The issue is particularly significant because Governor Eno had said the recruitment process was intended to provide equal opportunity for applicants.
‘I’m going down’
Mr Usen said he had expected to secure the job because of his academic qualifications and years of teaching experience.
“I am totally disappointed. To be sincere with you, I’m going down. I so much expected the job, being the highest scorer in my category.”
“I have served this state voluntarily for 10 years (2012-2022), teaching Human Anatomy at the School of Nursing, Anua (now College of Nursing Science). I wasn’t paid by the state government and only relied on the school allowance.”
He also taught at institutions affiliated with Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic, Uyo, including City and Guilds and Gregory University.
He currently runs a nursing preparatory centre where he prepares candidates for entrance examinations.
Mr Usen said he had obtained a first degree in Human Anatomy from the University of Uyo, a postgraduate diploma in Education from the same institution and a master’s degree from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State.
He said he graduated with a 4.57 CGPA in his PGDE and 4.50 in his master’s degree.
‘I’m not totally blind’
Mr Usen said his visual impairment is degenerative and has worsened progressively since childhood.
“I’m not totally blind. There are books I wrote and published by myself, but the situation has gotten worse now, and I don’t do those things anymore. What happened now is that I have an assistant who sits by me, and then we do it together.”
He said his teaching methods had evolved with his condition.
“The course I teach does not involve writing much on the board, but the method I normally use is that if I am given a subject to teach, what I do is that I sit down and compile it into a text, and that’s what put me into publishing.”
Mr Usen said his deteriorating sight eventually made writing impossible.
“I don’t read anymore, but I used to. I told you my condition is a degenerative process. From childhood, it gets worse with time.
“That is why I was able to go through my degree programmes. I was writing examinations by myself then. But now writing has become impossible.”
He said he had written to the state government about his non-selection and planned to submit another letter.
“There has not been any feedback from the state government at the moment.”
In a Facebook post on 18 September, Mr Usen appealed directly to Governor Eno, saying he believed he should not require a political godfather to secure government employment
“My compassionate governor, please have mercy on me! All I need is a teaching appointment by the state government.”
READ ALSO: Eno declares state of emergency in Akwa Ibom education sector
He added: “My dear governor, be my godfather, please. My pastor governor, break this curse for me, please. My compassionate governor, hear my cry, please.”
The state government has since approved additional recruitment, with Governor Eno directing the release of appointment letters to 4,000 successful civil service candidates and approving an additional 2,000 teachers, according to reports published in September by Punch newspapers
Mr Usen is asking the government to explain why his reported performance did not translate into an appointment.
Mr Ekpenyong, the commissioner for science and digital economy, who was in charge of the recruitment programme, did not respond to a phone call and a text message seeking his comment.
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