GANTA, Nimba – The Ministry of Education is urging teachers in Nimba who did not take an initial evaluation test in Sanniquellie on April 2 to take advantage of another test scheduled on May 28 in Gbarnga.

Earlier this year, the Ministry announced plans to test teachers around the country in order to correctly place them. The plan was met with serious resistance from the Leadership of the National Teacher Association of Liberia.

In its statement to its members, the NTAL called on them not to take the test. NTAL’s General Secretary Samuel Johnson told reporters that its members would boycott the test due to the fact that they needed a clear understanding of the true nature of the test from the Ministry of Education before they allow their members sit the aptitude test.

“Well, the National Teacher Association of Liberia has taken its position,” Johnson said. “We have written the Minister officially, informing him that none of our members in the 15 counties should take any test until the national stakeholder meeting to discuss the nature of the test is held.” Johnson declared.

Despite the position of the NTAL, the test was held on April 2, in Sanniquellie. The Acting County Education Officer of Nimba County, Moses Dologbay, revealed that of the approximately 3,100 teachers in Nimba, more than 2500 took the test in Sanniquellie.

According to Dologbay, those teachers who did not write the test would incur no penalty due to the unresolved controversy surrounding the administration of the test. He, however, said that they still have the opportunity to sit the next test that is to be administered in Gbarnga, Bong County in subsequent time.

The Ministry’s Director of Communications and Public Relations, J. Maxime Bleetahn, also advised teachers who had boycotted the first test to make use of this opportunity.

“The date for the test in Gbarnga is May 28, at the Gboveh High School in Gbarnga, Bong County. If you fail again to write this test, you will have yourself to blame,” he said.

Bleetahn said the test is not intended to cause teachers to lose their jobs, as many teachers and the NTAL believe, although the Ministry has not completely clarified what would happen to the worst performing teachers.

In a statement directed at teachers, Bleetahn said “the test is intended to find your rightful place in the classroom. Lots of you have over the time improved your credentials and are still misplaced. We want to have you in the right place and pay you the right salaries you deserve, according to your credentials.”

Bleetahn said those teachers in Nimba who did not write the test must make it their duty to sit the test in Gbarnga on May 28 at their own expense or face being penalized by the Ministry of Education. He did not specify the type of penalty.

Featured photo by Jefferson Krua