Ogun State students have told the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, that the good policies of the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led government in the education sector were not well implemented by his ministry.
The students, under the aegis of the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) maintained that “the progress being experienced in the academic sector is not commensurate with the state government’s investments and Stakeholders’ expectations since the appointment of Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu as the Commissioner for Education.”
In a statement made available to DAILY POST by the NAOSS National President, Gbemileke Ogunronbi, the students want Gov Abiodun “to revisit the activities of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology under the leadership of Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu and make necessary adjustments to ensure the efficacy of the ministry.”
NAOSS expressed concern that 90% high-flying students honoured by the State Government last week were from private schools, wondering what has befallen government-owned public schools.
“We staunchly believe that there are many deserving students across our public schools that merit being recognized. If the state government states otherwise, then it clearly exposes the failure of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology under the watch of Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu,” Ogunronbi stated.
According to him, Arigbabu ought to know that excellent students from public schools, where the bulk of the state resources go, should have been honoured to prove the effectiveness of their project rather than showcasing private schools’ students.
The development, NAOSS President said, was a proof to “the dwindling fortune and inability of public schools students to compete favourably like in times past.”
The alleged inability of Arigbabu to properly implement the policies of the Abiodun government was “made evident by the scanty policy-driven changes in our government schools.”
In his advice, Ogunronbi charged Prof. Arigbabu to work harder to reposition the public schools in the state to its former glory, saying failure to do this will be a great disservice to the legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“Among myriads of challenges facing the teachers in the state, lack of promotion since 2018, unpaid eight years leave allowances, unpaid 18 months deductions, acute teachers shortage in schools, arbitrary transfers, unpaid five months running costs and dilapidated infrastructures are begging for answers and holistic interventions.
“It will be in the best interest of the government for the Governor to quickly wade into this matter so as to forestall a looming crisis that could be escalated by those willing to defame the government,” he concluded.
