A Socio-Cultural Group, Oyo Development Initiative, has commended the Oyo State Government for its efforts to rehabilitate 100 schools across the state, saying that the provision of infrastructure would further put the education sector on a higher pedestal in the state.
The state government was also lauded for the recognition and award of scholarships bestowed on three students of the state who performed excellently in the 2017 West Africa Senior Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The Coordinator of the group, Dr Adesola Okalawon explained that the efforts and policies of the government to revive the education sector are already yielding fruitful results, stressing that those who were against the School Governing Board (SGB) model would clearly now see the benefits with the commendation award given to Government College Ibadan (GCI) SGB as the best SGB in the state.
Dr Okalawon noted that it is quite obvious that Ajimobi led administration is not paying lip service to education in the state, saying that the best WASSCE results feat achieved by the state in 2017 after 18 years of not too impressive results also deserve accolades.
He stated that education is the best legacy that can be bequeathed to the next generation and no matter the achievements of a government in other areas like health, infrastructure, agriculture among others, without concrete achievement in education, the government would be considered a failure.
The Coordinator said that the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s legacy in education still lingers in the memories of all and after 30 years of the demise of Chief Awolowo, his education model is still being referenced.
“Government officials, individuals, corporate bodies and religious organisations still make reference to the legacy of late Chief Awolowo in the education sector and the way it is always mentioned, it is as if he has no other legacy. However, he left so many legacies but education is seen as the best gift that can be given to anyone.
“Oyo State Government is finally turning around the fortunes of education positively. The best result in 18 years is a plus to the people of the state and it is already addressing the backwardness of the sector in the state. Also, the excellent exploits of Miss Akindele Oluwabukola Oyeyemi of Olivet High School, Oyo, the Best student in WASSCE from public school and the duo of Miss Irabor Isabelle Gelegu and Master Adekunle Oluwatoni Adedigba of Oritamefa Baptist Model School, who scored A1 parallel in all subjects to be the best and second best in WASSCE 2017 are further testimony to the reviving the sector.
“The decision of the government to address the decay in infrastructure in our schools is another step in the right direction. This effort will regulate the infrastructural imbalances in the schools across the state and we believe that the conducive academic atmosphere will further propel the students to perform excellently,” the group coordinator pointed out.
Dr Okalawon appealed to the state government not to rest on its oars, urging that schools’ rehabilitation should be properly monitored and all the policies that are shaping the education sector for good results should be pursued and supported vigorously including the Oyo State Education Trust Fund.
