Abstract
This paper critically looked at the crisis generated by the teachers’ competency test in the Kaduna state. Which agitates for the reform of the educational sector in Nigeria. The article strongly supported the need for such reforms nevertheless, faulted the procedural executions which encompassed the Kaduna state Teachers’ Competency Test on the basis of some fundamental issues. The main issue of lack of standard in Nigeria education system was a concern for this paper. This paper reviewed some of the problems in the education system that should have been the crux of the reform. The teacher is an important variable that influences the learnedness of a nations citizenry. There are several skills which qualify a person as a teacher. The competency of a teacher can be characterized by the ability to learn, assimilate, understand and impact an acquired skill or knowledge following predefined standards and methods. This requires a carefully planned investigation using tactical approaches, if the competency of a teacher is to be accessed. This paper argued that for a reform in the educational sector to enhance sustainable development, there must be good governance and a populace free of corruption within and outside the education system. The article suggested some areas where the Nigerian education requires reform such as teacher education, teachers’ condition of service and the school curricula vis-à-vis the Kaduna state teachers’ competency test.
 Aina, J. K. | School of science and mathematics education, University of the Western Cape, South Africa, Bellville, Western Cape
Highlights
Reform is useful and desirable in every sector of human lives
According to Libman, (2012), most education reforms have emphasized the importance of establishing national standards for student achievement, for the quality of teaching, and for the effectiveness of curricula for schools and teacher training institutions
The paper argued that reform in education is essential and imperative in the Nigeria education system as being done both in the developed and developing nations
Summary
Reform is useful and desirable in every sector of human lives. reform is only required when the existing system has failed or obsolete. The test conducted in the Kaduna case was on the subject matter knowledge, and this will be inadequate for evaluating the competency of a teacher. A competency test for teachers is a test developed to measure the minimum knowledge and skills required for adequate performance in the classroom (Flippo & Foster, 1984). Teacher competency testing in Singapore is conducted through a well encompassed test model for teaching This model according to Steiner (2010) consists principally of nurturing the whole child, cultivating knowledge, winning hearts and minds, working with others, and knowing self and others. Competency tests are used in conjunction with the achievement of performance outcomes to evaluate, track career, promote, and pay teachers in Singapore (Steiner, 2010). The test in Kaduna may not adopt the NCCE grading system but could modify it by making the pass mark for the test to be 55% which would correspond to the merit of the NCCE grading system
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