THE newly launched education policy by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State dubbed “School Governing Board (SGB) has been greeted with commendations from stakeholders in the sector, describing it as a step in the right direction towards revitalising education system.
The Board, aimed at restoring, transforming and repositioning the education sector was recently inaugurated in all the 628 Public Secondary Schools in Oyo state.
Speaking at the monthly stakeholders meeting held on Friday at the Conference room, Ministry of Education, Agodi Government Secretariat, Ibadan, the state Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Niyi Akano noted that the policy has not only provided conducive and child friendly environment, but will also enhance teaching and learning activities in the schools.
“We thank the government for introducing the SGB. We have been seeing the impacts. We pray that this should be extended to primary schools”.
Corroborating him, the Secretary, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Pastor Olujide Babajide paid a glowing tribute to the governor for the initiative taken to introduce SGB.
Pastor Olujide stressed, ” prior to the introduction of SGB, management and administration of public secondary school in the state was very difficult, provision of facilities were not forthcoming.
“But since the introduction of the SGB, the schools have been experiencing a great relief in terms of provision of finance. So far so good, since the program started, a lot of renovations have taken place.
The ANCOPSS’s Secretary averred that the government’s policy encourages partnership with the public and community, adding that it has encouraged active participation of the old students, philanthropists in uplifting the educational standard and rebuilding schools.
Also, he lauded the “No Automatic Promotion’ policy recently enforced by the state government, saying it has strengthened the capacity of the students. Students have adjusted, they are now more focused, sitting and attending classes regularly”.
Earlier in his address, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela explained that the present administration has not relented in carrying out series of renovation in schools, adding that the government will commence renovation of 100 secondary schools across the 33 local government areas in the state based on needs and strategic locations.
The positive results of SGB policy, according to Olowofela has demonstrated the commitment and cooperation of old students, parents, philanthropists that no government can shoulder the responsibilities of education alone.
” It is this conviction that gave birth to the establishment of the School Governing Board (SGB)”, the commissioner noted.
He, however assured that the collaborative efforts between the government and stakeholders in the education sector will restore its lost glory.
