Oyo SGB’s policy is apolitical says Commissioner

OYO State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela on Wednesday reiterated that the School Governing Boards’ policy (SGBs) inaugurated by the present administration in the state was not politically motivated, noting that the all inclusive policy was geared towards rejuvenating as well as repositioning the education sector.

The Commissioner stated this at the official distribution of student furniture, exercise books and sporting materials donated by Hon. Akeem Ige, representing Ibadan South East Constituency II at the State House of Assembly held at Christ Church Primary School Play Ground, Odinjo, Ibadan.

Professor Olowofela in his remarks recalled, “when government insisted that all of us -the old students, the Parent Teacher Association, the Community, the Principals of schools should participate in the management of the school, the idea was misconstrued, there was chaos and riot in the society, but we thank God that the policy is yielding dividend today.

“Let me tell you, the program of today, a lot of people read various insinuations into it. When government established SGB, we declared that it is not politically motivated. We are saying education is the business of all. We can’t blame anybody any more.

“We are saying that all of us must participate in the development of education and that’s what we are doing today. Whether you are APC, Accord, Labour, PDP, SDP that’s not our concern, our concern is that development must be visible in our various schools”.

While applauding the effort of the donor of these education materials, Hon. Ige on behalf of the state government for his determination towards ensuring that learning activities in the schools are carried out without hitch and as well ensuring agility of these learners through provision of sporting equipments, Olowofela said, “sportsmanship is a good virtue to be inculcated in these little ones to develop team spirit. Ige has always been looking for ways to improve quality of lives”.

Professor Olowofela continued , “His Excellency, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has consistently been calling for a participatory approach to education financing in which all stakeholders are enjoined to actively contribute their quota in the provision of free and qualitative education.

“It is no gain saying that, education has a global reach and no government around the world can solely shoulder the responsibility of providing the educational demands of her people”.

He disclosed that government has mandated schools, both public and private in the state to organise sporting activities every year so as to discover talents.

Speaking further, the ex-council boss, Olowofela hinted, ” I also want to congratulate all of us today because when you look at educational profile from 1999 until last year 2016, our percentage in terms of WAEC pass rate, the best has been 21.61% but this year 2017, we have 54.18% in the WAEC ratings which demonstrate that government effort is yielding dividends”.

The commissioner, therefore urged all and sundry to come on board and support government in her drive aimed at restoring, reforming and repositioning the education sector in the state.

Earlier in his welcome address, the donor, Hon. Akeem Ige disclosed that the program was part of his effort to ensure that pupils have access to table and chairs, saying that the donation aims at enhancing their studies.

The lawmaker emphasised that he accorded education a priority, thus informed his decision to embarked upon provision of these education materials within shortest possible time.

“This I believe will go a long way to solving several challenges facing these schools at the moment in terms of infrastructure. This is also in line with education policy of the present administration in the state to reform education through the establishment of School Governing Boards (SGBs) to ensure that each individual contributes his/her quota to the development of education in the state”

As part of his contribution towards boosting sporting activities in public schools and to develop sporting activities at the grassroot especially football, the Chairman House Committee  on Foreign Relations  also distributed sporting kits and materials.

The ex- council gaffer, who is also an alumnus of the School (Christ Church Primary School), Hon. Ige while imploring the old students in all public schools to gather themselves and form a synergy so as to contribute their own quota to the development of education in the state concluded “the government is doing a lot but government alone cannot do it all”.