Many applicants in the Osun State Government Teachers Recruitment exercise have been left stranded as the Computer Based Test, CBT, did not hold as scheduled on Wednesday.
The teachers recruitment test, according to a state government announcement earlier in the week, was to hold across various centers in the state.
A statement last Friday by M.A.K. Jimoh, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, had noted that the examination would start by 8am prompt on Wednesday.
“This is to inform the General Public, particularly applicants for the ongoing Osun State Teacher’s Recruitment Exercise that the CBT examination will hold between Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th March, 2024 at different Uniosun designated Centers.
“Applicants are also advised to come to their designated centres with the printed examination slip. All exams starts by 8am prompt each day.”
Each applicant, DAILY POST gathered, was made to pay the sum of N2,000 for registration in order to qualify for the CBT exams.
Some of the applicants at the Ilesa and Ede CBT centres lamented to DAILY POST that the Batches 1 to 4 slated for 8am to 11am could not write the exams.
They stated that they waited till 3pm and were left stranded and hungry without any explanation from the state officials as to why the CBT examination could not hold as announced.
The same situation was reported from centers in Osogbo, Ikire and Ile Ife.
An applicant at the Ilesa centre who did not want her name in print for fear of sanction, said, “People arrived here since as early as 7am. They told us the server is down and is from Osogbo.
“I left my place at Ipetu-Jesa all the way to Ilesa thinking that I have been late only to get here and till now nothing has happened.
“They said there is no network. Can you imagine? I left home since 6:00am.”
Another applicant, Joshua Akinbade, said, “Are they not aware we are doing exams today? Didn’t we pay so they could make proper logistics available? This shows the disorganisation in the state Ministry of Education and the state government as a whole.”
At about 3pm, it was gathered that the officials began to lock the CBT centres after no examination was held.
However, a statement issued by the management of the Osun State University, UNIOSUN, one of the affected centers for the proposed CBT examination, disclosed that the server was hacked overnight by unknown criminals attempting to disrupt the teachers’ recruitment test.
The statement signed by the UNIOSUN spokesperson, Ademola Adesoji, added that the damage inflicted in the server required time to resolve which resulted in undue delay in starting the examination and necessitating the rescheduling of the tests at two out of the scheduled thirteen centres.
“Unexpectedly, our server was attacked at midnight today. We responded technically and frustrated attempts to breach our core software and question bank.
“The damage inflicted on the server required time to resolve, resulting in an undue delay in the start of exams and necessitating the rescheduling of tests at two out of thirteen centers.
“We are relieved that the hackers or opponents of this recruitment process have failed in their attempts to thwart us. Over the last eight or so hours, it has been a tough battle in our efforts to ensure the success of Osun State government.
“Examinations have concluded at 11 out of the 13 locations today. However, the two problematic centers, Osogbo and Ikire, will be rescheduled based on the Ministry’s decision.
“We await the Ministry’s decision on this matter and appreciate your patience during this situation.
“Similar incidents occur, as evidenced by disruptions during JAMB exams. Nevertheless, all 11 centers where we were successful have completed all planned sessions for today, by the grace of God.”
The UNIOSUN management however apologised for any inconveniences caused and assured that it was on course despite being behind schedule.