The Kwara State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) has announced that 1,800 applicants shortlisted for teaching appointments in the state will undergo mandatory drug tests.
This was disclosed in a statement released by TESCOM’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onile, in Ilorin. The shortlisted candidates were selected after a rigorous screening process that included a computer-based test and interviews conducted over a three-month period.
According to the breakdown provided by Onile, the successful applicants comprise 790 (44%) for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects; 581 for core subjects; 370 for specialized subjects; and 59 for technical subjects. Onile stated that these individuals will be deployed to senior secondary schools across the 16 local government areas of Kwara State, aligning with the commission’s needs assessment. He advised all interviewees to check their application status on the designated portal. Importantly, he emphasized that “those shortlisted will undergo a mandatory drug test to ascertain their suitability to teach children.”
The drug testing process will be conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and coordinated by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Drugs Abuse, Prevention and Control, Hon. Mukail Aileru.
The exercise is scheduled to take place from Wednesday, April 9, 2025, to Saturday, April 12, 2025. Candidates from Baruten, Edu, Kaiama, and Patigi are slated for testing on Wednesday. Those from Ekiti, Ifelodun, Irepodun, and Isin will be tested on Thursday, April 10. Applicants from Offa, Oke Ero, Oyun, and Moro are scheduled for Friday, April 11, while candidates from Asa, Ilorin East, Ilorin South, and Ilorin West will undergo testing on Saturday. Onile clarified that the drug test certificates will be directly submitted to TESCOM by the NDLEA to prevent any potential tampering by candidates.
Furthermore, he announced that successful applicants will be required to sign a six-year bond, committing not to seek transfers. This policy aims to address the shortage of teachers in rural areas of the state.
Shortlisted candidates are also instructed to bring medical certificates from any state government hospital and the original copies of their credentials for documentation. They will be required to submit photocopies of these documents for record-keeping and provide handwritten letters accepting the job offer. Other terms and conditions of employment will be detailed during the documentation process, Onile added.
