No fewer than 21,452 Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria-certified applicants have applied for 1,000 rural teaching positions advertised by the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

Kassim Mohammed-Kassim, executive chairman of SUBEB, disclosed this in an interview in Lafia on Friday. 

Mr Mohammed-Kassim said that the recruitment exercise, which commenced on March 27 and was initially scheduled to end on April 3, had been extended by one week to April 10.

He explained that the extension followed complaints by some qualified applicants who were unable to submit their applications within the initial timeframe.

 “The extension became necessary due to the inability of some qualified applicants to apply. We received numerous complaints regarding applicants’ inability to access and complete their applications due to the short notice on the portal,” he said.

The SUBEB chairman urged eligible candidates to take advantage of the extended application deadline, assuring them that only the best candidates would be shortlisted.

He reiterated that the recruitment was specifically targeted at rural teaching, adding that successful applicants would be deployed strictly to schools in rural communities.

Mohammed-Kassim advised those unwilling to work in rural areas to reconsider applying, as postings would be limited to such locations.

He assured the board would ensure a transparent recruitment process, in which qualified candidates would be employed on merit, regardless of background or connections. 

(NAN)