At least eight out of the 1,800 shortlisted candidates for the Teaching Service Commission in Kwara have been disqualified for testing positive for banned substances in a drug test conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

This was disclosed in a statement by the TESCOM on Monday.

The commission confirmed that the affected applicants tested positive for drugs, including benzodiazepine, tramadol, cotinine, marijuana and amphetamine, which are all harmful and prohibited.

“A major implication of this development is that the affected individuals will be replaced by the candidates who are next to them in performance from their respective local government areas,” said TESCOM.

TESCOM chair Bello Taoheed Abubakar said the move clearly demonstrated the Kwara government’s zero tolerance for the use of contraband substances, even within the education sector.

“We have a duty of care not to expose little children to drug abuse under any circumstance,” the TESCOM boss said.

Mr Abubakar noted that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasak has again shown his commitment to fair and transparent governance.

He said, “Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has etched his name in gold for insisting that recruitment into the teaching profession should be strictly meritorious and devoid of practices that may jeopardize quality learning in our schools.”

Mr Abubakar added that the governor “has also proven that he is committed to giving every Kwaran a fair chance.”