The state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, had, at different fora directed that all forms of payment in public primary and secondary schools ceased with immediate effect, a decision which has left the schools without running funds to maintain curricular and co- curricular activities, investigations by Mega Icon Magazine have shown.

Also, the state government has refused to employ teachers despite an acute shortage of teaching personnel in public primary and secondary schools across the state, while private teachers hired through the contributions of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) were relieved of their jobs.

Our checks further revealed that the public schools became the target of attacks by hoodlum following the forced withdrawal of security guards, especially the night guards after Governor Makinde announced the abolition of payment of the fees.

Reacting to this development, one of the Principals who spoke in confidence lamented, “we are finding it difficult to pay for the services of security guards and others employed to complement our efforts”.

Before now, pupils in public secondary schools paid N1000 per term each under the education policy of Schools’ Governing Boards (SGBs) of the immediate past administration led by Senator Abiola Ajimobi. Investigations unearthed that the N1000 fees were domiciled in the accounts of the schools for their smooth -running.

Meanwhile, the Oyo state government through its Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Kehinde Sangodoyin at the launching and dedication of projects embarked upon by Old Students of Ibadan City Academy, Ibadan vowed that the government would start paying running cost for the upkeep of public schools from Monday September 30th, 2019.

According to Prof. Sangodoyin, ” parts of the State education policy is to improve access and participation of our students in academic activities at all levels, be it primary or secondary and since the governor has removed levies hitherto paid by our students and has just approved the payment of running cost to our primary and secondary schools”.

However, our findings on  Wednesday (9th October, 2019) revealed that the state government has not fulfilled its promise .

Another Principal, who also pleaded anonymity lamented the cancelation of the Education Development Levy without providing an alternative, adding that running of schools had become ineffective.

He observed that there was high disregard for continuity in the formulation of educational policies, stressing that lack of funds has contributed to the schools’ inability to effectively implement the curriculum, which has greatly affected the academic activities.

While, highlighting the challenges during a chat with our reporter, he , however sought government’s intervention.

“We are faced with numerous challenges, which include inadequate teachers, inability to effectively implement the school curriculum on some subjects and lack of teachers and facilities.”

Shockingly, the same concerns were raised in other schools visited by our reporter.

Speaking further, he disclosed that
considerable numbers of pupils in most of the primary and secondary schools in Oyo state still study in poor conditions, making it harder for them to perform well.

“More pupils in class due to insufficient furniture has made the study environment difficult to manage”, Mega Icon Magazine source concluded.

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Government Technical College, Saki

(L-R) Executive Secretary, Oyo ETF, Mrs Fatoki, Chairperson, Oyo ETF, Chief Nike Akande, Oyo state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela and Principal GTC, Orita Aperin during an inspection tour to the College

Governor Ajimobi further emphasized that the initiative is meant to enable the state to acquire world class facilities and harness resources that would bring the kind of difference that really matters in the sector, adding that the policy will go a long way in improving the standard of education, service delivery and generate funds from government and private bodies towards financing the sector.

Though, most sceptics did not initially understand the highly cerebral governor, but he strongly shares view with the former first lady of the United States of America, Rosalynn Carter which she expressed thus; “a leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be”.

Justifying the governor’s vision, his efforts to rebuild the education sector with funds pooled from the public and  private sources has started improving the standard of education in the state.

Government Technical College, Orita Aperin, Ibadan

As a good manager of resources who is in tune with the challenges associated with management system and leadership, the governor specifically searched and settled for  an accountant and investment expert, a two-time Minister of Industry, a director of many companies with a proven track record,  Chief (Mrs) Nike Akande to chair the  Oyo State Education Trust Fund (ETF) so that the Board can function optimally, in accordance with its mission statement.

Moments after her historic inauguration, the boardroom guru, Akande soon settled down to a rigorous work. Driven by passion to succeed and contribute her quota wherever she finds herself and like an icon  with the midas touch, the Oyo ETF has started recording rhythmic success stories.

Government Technical College, Iseyin

The neglect which the technical and vocational education experienced under the previous administrations in the state which has culminated into the dilapidated structures unfit for animals not to talk of humans and  resulting into low productive output has led to a drastic reduction of pupil’s enrollment into the state’s technical colleges.

But,  owing to their importance in the nation’s technological growth and advancement, the Abiola Ajimobi led government through the Oyo ETF realised the  need to create, remodel and revive all technical colleges in the state and bring them to full operation.

Without doubt, the introduction of Oyo ETF aimed at restoring, transforming and repositioning the education sector has not only started yielding positive fruits but also restoring the state pristine identity of ‘pacesetting’ as students, parents and even the staff of the Government Technical Colleges in Ibadan, Oyo, Iseyin, Ogbomoso and Saki  have been acknowledging and appreciating the ongoing transformation of the learning/teaching atmosphere. They have registered their appreciation to government for the changes in the colleges.

Miracles had happened!

Public secondary schools in the state are also receiving the attention of OYO ETF as  free exercise books were being distributed to the Senior Secondary students in the state. More interventions in forms of new constructions, renovations, provisions of teaching and learning materials with relevant seminars/workshops for teachers and students were also enjoyed, though, in order of priority by all levels of education in the state.

Contrary to the sordid and sorry state of technical and vocational education which Governor Abiola Ajimobi met when he was sworn in as the state governor, he has, however, turned the ‘hands of clock around’ by providing a conducive learning environment for pupils in the state  through the renovation and erection of ultramodern structures.

Government Technical College, Ogbomoso

No wonder why the state commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela maintained that it is impossible to commission all projects conceived, conceptualized and executed  by the Abiola Ajimobi led administration.

It is obvious that the Oyo ETF under the firm grip of Chief Nike Akande has recorded significant successes by fulfilling its mandate that established the Board. The infrastructural development currently witnessed at the various Government Technical Colleges  in the state evident a clear departure from its inglorious era.

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The Commissioner who made this observation on Wednesday at the commissioning of an ultra – modern science laboratory; a project donated by Prof. Kolawole Adebayo to Oke’badan High School noted that the importance of the provision of adequate facilities in schools cannot be over -emphasized, stressing that the donation of this ultra modern science laboratory will go a long way in adding values, in enhancing the quality of teaching, learning as well as serving as an opening to improving the school in all ramifications.

According to Prof. Olowofela, qualitative education through the provision of the required and adequate teaching and learning facilities has been a great concern to the Abiola Ajimobi led administration, thus, the government lent out her hands of partnership through the School Governing Boards policy (SGBs) by inviting stakeholders comprising of the Parents Forum, the Old Students, Philanthropists among others to contribute their quotas to the development of education sector in the state.

He emphasised further that the state government has been advocating that the responsibility of education lies on all and sundry and “all of us must give back to the system that has produced us”.

“The SGBs policy is a magic wand in the sense that there is really no week in which we have not been invited to come and commission one project or the other for the government.

“Also, the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, (DAWN) Commission has adopted School Governing Boards (SGBs) educational policy by Oyo state government towards enhancing educational development in the South West region.

“In fact, if we sustain this policy, I know that in the next 5 years, the public schools in the state would have changed remarkably. Why we are emphasising this is that our own government is on its way out, but this is a policy that must be sustained so that Oyo state can enjoy rapid infrastructural development and contents delivery in our schools”, Olowofela declared.

While appreciating donors’ previous contributions toward the development of education in the state, the Commissioner specifically lauded Prof. Adebayo for the rare disposition displayed by him in donating “this ultra -modern science laboratory for the use of the current students of the school and for the use of generation of students who are yet unborn “.

He, however implored the teachers to put the facility to optimal use for the benefits of the young ones and ensure that it is well kept and properly maintained.

Also speaking at the event, the donor, Professor Kolawole Adebayo while giving reason for his decision narrated: ” Today, we are giving facilities that you (students) are going to use with the expectation that in future you would also come back and give back to the school.

“My motivation is simple. The only reason I changed to Oke’ Badan High School was that I wanted to study science and at that time the laboratory was not ready in my former school. So, I discussed with my parent that I can’t be a science student if my school does not have a laboratory. My school was in Ijebu and wanted to come to Ibadan because I wanted to study science and I was brought here as a pupil in 1981.

” I was sad therefore, when 3 years ago we had our meeting at Justice Shoremi’s house in Abeokuta and I was told that the laboratory is not functioning. I was sad because that was the reason I came to Ibadan. Then, I have to contribute my widow’s mite.

Appreciating the old students association of the school, Prof. Adebayo also tasked others to contribute their own quota to the development of their alma mater.

Having realized that no government can shoulder the responsibilities of education alone, Governor Abiola Ajimobi had earlier inaugurated the School Governing Boards, (SGBs) in all the 628 Public Secondary Schools in Oyo state.

Interestingly, the Board aims at restoring, transforming and repositioning the education sector has enjoyed the commitment and cooperation of Principals, teachers, old students, parents, philanthropists among others.

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Speaking at the award ceremony on Monday which was held at the Lekan Are Hall, Government College Ibadan, the Chairman, COPE AFRICA, a UNDP consultant, Dr Adeyeye Adewole informed that the Centre deemed it fit to honour Olowofela due to his creative ideas, passion for development, innovative solutions to recurring problems in secondary sub-sector which led to the School Governing Board (SGB) initiative.

The Associate Professor, Adeyeye said from the onset the School Governing Boards (SGBs) initiative was one of the best thing that has happened to Oyo state in recent time. According to him, “every secondary schools across Oyo state is now being piloted by a governing council that work assiduously to enhance quality of administration; institute better policy directions; push for innovative practices and adopt creative solutions to specific problems and more importantly attract massive infrastructure and growth.

“In 2018 alone, the monetary worth of the quantum of infrastructure and other resources have been injected into Oyo State Secondary School system through the ingenuity of SGB is over N2billion. Many Schools are now experiencing phenomenal growth and infrastructure transformation through creative approach propelled outside the regular and mostly inadequate government provisions. On this special note, we commend the Oyo State School Governing Boards (SGBs) for this towering feat. We also commend the Chairmen and respected members of School Governing Boards (SGBs) across Oyo State for commitment in their services to humanity as well as implementation of legacy projects that has helped to reposition secondary education sub -sector for the benefits of unborn generation”, he added.

The COPE AFRICA chair further appreciated the Abiola Ajimobi led administration for this initiative ” that  has become the toast of many states across Nigeria”.

In his remarks, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, while expressing gratitude to Governor Ajimobi for the opportunity given to serve explained, “when we started the School Governing Board (SGB) system, we have to do advocacy. We moved throughout the entire education zone in the state to do training upon training for people and we thank God that today the School Governing Board (SGB) system is well understood. And as a dynamic system, definitely there will be improvement, so as you are moving forward using the template of the manual, we belief strongly that we will ultimately reach the peak as far as the best practices in education are concerned.

” I also want to congratulate you because Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission), look at the School Governing Board system and they have adopted it as a policy for the entire Southwest of Nigeria. When they told me that they will be giving me award as ICON for School Governing Board, to me this is a collective award, its not a token of recognition of your efforts, especially all the members of the School Governing Board that are not taking one kobo for their service.

“But I know that it gladdens their hearts that they are contributing immensely to education in the state and it has also afforded them the opportunity to change the paradigm in the state. It is easy to criticize, it is even easy to condemn government, but what are your contributions to make sure that Nigeria and Oyo state change from what it used to be to where we are supposed to be? So, I thank you for your support, especially when it is selfless.

” Let me also say that we have to commend the secretaries of the School Governing Board, those that are the principals of the schools. They are the ones that are there every now and then to know the problems facing a particular school system and we know that they have been judiciously and wisely spending the funds in conjunction with the members of the board, money accrue or accruable to the school either through education development levy or by some direct supports from old students or community at large in moving education forward in the state.

“It also gladdens my heart that the intervention fund of SUBEB; as at the last time we had it was 2012 but as at today, Oyo State Government has been able to access, even up to 2018. The simple implication is that this will also affect our primary education positively. When you also see that the statistics and the job done by the Ministry of Education and all education stakeholders led to the fact that the discovery of out of school children in the state.

“Based on the policy paper written by these gentlemen in various ministries, Oyo State Government has secured the sum of $500m to tackle the issue of out of school children in the next five years. This is a project that will outlived this government and that’s how a good government must think, you must think beyond immediate, you must think about the future.

“Essentially this project is inter ministerial in approach, it may be resident in the ministry of education, but everybody must participate in it because each child counts as far as education is concern.

“When you want to destroy a nation, destroy the education of that nation and when you want to build a nation build the education of that nation”, Olowofela continued.

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Speaking at the event, the Provincial Pastor of Oyo Province 13, Pastor Samuel Awobode maintained that the gesture is to fulfill one of the visions of the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye which is to give back to the society through the Christian Social Responsibility otherwise known as Corporate Social Responsibility.

While commending the educational policies of Governor Abiola Ajimobi led administration, Awobode said: “we appreciate the efforts of His Excellency, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for his efforts to reposition and transform educational standard in the state, the result of which have started being seen through the students’ performance in external examinations like WAEC and NECO.

“This achievement was also made possible through the efforts of the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, an erudite scholar and a man of no mean status”, he stated.

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The Provincial Pastor added that this was the reason the province, RCCG Oyo Province 13 deemed it fit to distribute 5000 exercise books across the secondary and primary schools in four local government Areas on the state.

Remarking, the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela lauded RCCG Province 13 in the state for donating books, other learning and health materials to United Christian Secondary School, Omo-Adio, the commissioner’s alma mater.

According to Olowofela, the gesture by the church is according to the injunction of Christianity and Jesus Christ of providing for the people in need, adding that it is a template for all other churches, organizations and free givers to emulate the church in alleviating poverty and promoting laudable developments.

He added that it is on this backdrop that the state government launched School Governing Boards (SGBs), an educational policy that allows all and sundry to participate in providing for secondary schools’ educational needs and engendering a desirable development in educational sector in the state.

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The Commissioner who represented the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi stated this on Wednesday, at the official commissioning of of school building tagged ‘NOS VIES EN PARTAGE BLOCK’ (Sharing Prosperity) donated by a philanthropist, Mr Olajide Babatunde at Baptist Secondary School, Oke- Ado, Ibadan.

Prof. Olowofela recalled that when government wanted to change paradigm of education in the state, the government was misconstrued which led to chaos, demonstrations and hullabaloo but today after the government has set up School Governing Boards (SGBs) in all public secondary schools in the state, there had been success stories.

Oyo restates commitment to providing conducive environment in schools

Also, he maintained that apart SGBs as policy to develop education, the state government has set up Education Trust Fund (ETF) and has released funds to reconstruct secondary and primary schools in the state.

Also speaking at the event, the donor, Mr Olajide Babatunde informed that the occasion marks another great day in showcasing the achievements of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s tripod agenda of transformation, reposition and reformation in the state’s educational sector.

The school principal, Mrs. Babajide said the donor, two years ago saw the deplorable state of the building and offered to renovate it.

Commending the donor, she further stressed that the building was initially used as library, staff room and classroom but has now been made as Principal’s office, the Library and well equipped music room that is second to none.

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ANCOPS’ Secretary, Pastor Babajide Olujide, while speaking at the presentation ceremony of the distribution of School Governing Boards (SGBs) compendium to stakeholders in Education held at the conference room, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan, said that the policy has set an unbeatable records which can not be denied in the field of education in the state.

Commending the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, the ANCOPS’s scribe who averred that the policy has maintained a rhythmic progress stressed “the ideal of the SGBs that came up as a policy for us to be implemented in Oyo state brought a lot of relief and a new era into the administration of secondary schools’ administration.

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“What we are talking about is not political, we are talking about reality. There is no sentiment about it. We knew where we were before, we knew what is happening now, the difference is so clear because schools have taken a new shape, new things are springing up, so visible for everybody to see”, he added.

Olujide continued, ” in fact, I was so touched by the impacts of this SGBs. It has become a gospel we have been spreading from one state to the other. ANCOPS as a confederation, we operate at different levels and all along we have been sharing our experience in Oyo state with other colleagues in various states.

“They have been so inquisitive about the extent of development going on in Oyo state and they wanted to know the secret behind it. We are bold as a confederation to speak about it any day, anywhere regardless of the situation and circumstances”, he maintained.

Earlier in his remarks, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela noted that the School Governing Boards had contributed immensely to the development of education in the state, adding that the boards had frontally addressed the infrastructural challenges confronting the schools.

Acknowledging the commitment, dexterity and courage of the governor on the policy, Olowofela said, ” I am proud to say today that many of the Governing Boards had meticulously provided our schools with basic infrastructural and academic needs. Some had renovated abandoned and dilapidated classrooms; new classrooms were constructed in some schools, E-Library projects were provided in some schools while many schools have their ICT centre totally overhauled”.

He explained that the compendium is a documentation of projects, programmes and achievements of the School Governing Boards, (SGBs) in all the Public Secondary Schools in the state since their inauguration.

The Commissioner further noted that the compendium will go along way in ensuring the sustainability of the schools, convince members of the public and stakeholders in education that the current administration is determined to reposition education and not ready to keep people in the dark in the implementation of this new education policy; and also a strategic way of engendering a healthy rivalry among the school managers.

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Oyo state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela stated this on Thursday in Ibadan at the official commissioning of renovated and equipped physics laboratory; a project executed by the old girls (1968-1972 set) of St. Anne’s School, Molete.

The Commissioner said, “I am happy to tell you today that the School Governing Board (SGB) has been accepted by DAWN commission. All schools in the Southwest will adopt SGB as their educational policy”.

He added that the School Governing Boards (SGBs) in the past one year has expended no fewer than N2b on school infrastructure throughout the state.

It would be recalled that Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State inaugurated the School Governing Boards, (SGBs) in all the 628 Public Secondary Schools in the state. Having realized that no government can shoulder the responsibilities of education alone, the Board which has enjoyed the commitment and cooperation of old students, parents, philanthropists aims at restoring, transforming and repositioning the education sector.

Also, the commissioner further disclosed that Oyo state has been identified as the only state in the Southwest by World Bank to benefit from a grant of $578m which has been set aside for the next five years to tackle issue of out of school children.

Highlighting the efforts of the state government, Olowofela stressed, ” just last week, Oyo state government
awarded a contract of N3.7b for infrastructural development in all the primary schools and has also awarded a month ago a contract to renovate 100 secondary schools up to a tune of N2b. When you see all these developments you will see that the paradigm will change for good”.

Earlier in her welcome address, the school principal who commended the old girls averred that their passion for high standard education coupled with loyalty to their alma mater has produced a better template for teaching and learning in the school in terms of provision of facilities, renovations of the old buildings, introduction of various programmes and initiatives such as scholarship among others.

According to her, “as a major stakeholder in education, your collaborative efforts with other stakeholders – the parents, the community, the church are in line with the laudable programmes and policy of Oyo state government towards raising the standard of education to an enviable position among states in this nation”.

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Speaking during the 2018 COPE/MOES &T Capacity Building Workshop on leveraging support of School Governing Boards towards improved education system in Oyo State  held at Ibadan Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan, the State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela said the compendium was part of the state government’s way of thanking the stakeholders in the state for running with the SGB vision and making it work.

According to him, “the fear of change is what led to the initial resistance of a section of the public against the vision of His Excellency, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, for a participatory school management structure for our schools. To the glory of God and due to the doggedness of the governor, the School Governing Board is up and running today. Now we can see that the cause of initial dread is actually a change for the better”.

The ex-council boss stressed further that the collaborative sensitization workshop was targeted at proper repositioning, enhancing contribution and ensuring that the School Governing Board philosophy becomes fully internalised so that the SGBs remains as it were, flagship for phenomenal growth.

While commending the efforts of the boards, Olowofela noted, “the SGB is only eleven months old, yet its positive impact on secondary schools in the state is phenomenal with contributions ranging from rehabilitation of the dilapidated buildings on our schools; construction of new classroom buildings; construction of perimeter fences; provision of resource materials, teaching aids, laboratory equipment and materials, as well as library text books to the employment of teaching and non -teaching staff.

” But, we know it can be better still if we work on members of the respective boards in terms of re- exposing you to your rights and responsibilities, so to say. We also aim by this workshop to envision board members on possibilities you could explore for the development of your schools “, he added.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, Centre for Organizational And Professional Ethics, COPE-Africa, Dr. Adeyeye Adewole reiterated that one of the major areas through which Governor Abiola Ajimobi has clearly demonstrated his transformational posture was by instituting School Governing Boards, SGBs initiative to give a semblance of proactive corporate governance mechanism in the area of policy issues, funding, proper management and helping to fast track sustainable growth and development in Oyo state secondary system, adding that the initiative came at the right time given the spate and profundity of near -total neglect and despicable downswing which the secondary schools have suffered over – time.

The Associate Professor cum UNDP consultant, Adewole while paying a glowing tribute to the governor for appointing committed personalities who are very successful in their chosen fields of endeavour, also averred that the level of accomplishments within the short frame of time when the SGBs came on board was overwhelming and thus call for rejoice in Oyo state. “Little wonder that the School Governing Boards, SGBs initiative is already been studied for replication by many states across the country”.

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