By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and technology, Prof. Soliu Abdulwaheed Adelabu on Wednesday, said, “mushroom” schools would not be allowed to operate in the state.
Prof Adelabu who made this known at a meeting with basic education stakeholders in the state, disclosed that all substandard primary schools in and across the state are to be shut down.
According to him, in doing this, the state government would work with education secretaries, and heads of sections in all local government areas towards shutting down all the substandard primary schools.
Emphasizing that the Ministry of Education and OYOSUBEB will work closely with relevant stakeholders to tighten the noose on operators of mushroom primary schools, he
charged the education secretaries, heads of sections in the 33 Local Government areas of the state to get set, as the meeting was part of steps and institutional preparations towards the crackdown.
The Commissioner while expressing dissatisfaction with the report he gathered on the field, during a recent inspection, identified ways to forestall some basic errors in the basic education sub-sector called for unwavering commitment by all stakeholders by being part of the moving train, to better the lots of children in the basic education sub-sector and that relevant stakeholders should step up their game in the proper supervision of schools under their watch.
According to the commissioner, the standard in education must not dwindle, and that education Secretaries and private schools’ owners to take the issue of standard in schools seriously
Stressing that Oyo State Government under the supervision of Governor Seyi Makinde is making moves to address infrastructural decay in primary schools, the commissioner said the governor has given the ministry marching order to identify schools with urgent need of infrastructural overhaul.
“The Oyo State Government is doing everything possible to bring every child of school age on board. However, we must not compromise our commitment for quality and standard education in the state”, he said.
On the issue of recruitment of primary school teachers, the Commissioner said, “We are aware that teachers are retiring, and the staff strength in our primary schools are reducing. I assure you that, by God’s grace, we will recruit more teachers in the basic education sector by February 2024,” he said.
Coordinating Director, OYOSUBEB, Mrs. Olaide Ladipo while speaking said the board is committed to the betterment of public primary schools, saying the recent inspection of the Commissioner for Education, along with the management team of OYOSUBEB brought forth the areas where schools fall short, and where urgent attention is needed.
Speaking through the Director, Administration and Supply, Mr. David Isola, the coordinating director, said the meeting serves as a pivotal platform to address the challenges.
