The Chairman, Oyo State Teaching Service Commission, Pastor Akinade Alamu, has said no fewer than 441 First-Class graduates from different fields applied to teach in the state public schools.

WuzupNigeria reports that the applicants began writing the computer-based test that commenced in Ibadan on Tuesday. The test ends on Saturday.

Alamu made the disclosure during the inspection of the exercise at the University of Ibadan CBT hall.

Alamu said the interest of the First Class candidates in teaching service portended significant turnaround for the education sector in the state, as the present administration in the state would ensure the judicious application of available resources.

He said,

“We are happy to have the best applicants, especially the First-Class graduates taking part in this exercise. The government of Oyo State is desirous of lifting education to a higher level so that we will have as much as the best among our applicants.

“We want to bring back the pride attached to teaching in the old, it is the best profession and if we have the best hands joining, it is a good omen.

“The scores at the interview level will place applicants higher. We have a mark for NCE, we have different mark for graduates and there is a higher mark for First-Class. This shows that the whole thing will be based on merit.

“The present government is concerned with the upliftment of education in the state. This is why we decided that before we appoint anybody as teacher, such a person must be qualified, competent and ready to work in line with the passion of the governor for education. I believe this will raise the standard of education in the state and will catapult the performance rating of our state to the first three.”

He said the distribution of compendium of past questions of subjects, the intervention classes and the distribution of books among others were indicative of a state that always planned.