Gov. Adeleke flags off distribution of instructional materials to schools
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has flagged off the distribution of exercise books to students of secondary schools in the State, with a call to parents and other stakeholders to repose confidence in the public education system in the State.
Speaking during the ceremony, Adeleke reiterated that his administration remain focussed, committed and resolute about the avowed resolve to getting education right.
His words: “You will recall that in April, 2023, less than six months into this administration, I flagged off the distribution of instructional materials to all our public secondary schools. The same gesture was extended to basic education pupils via SUBEB. Today again we shall give to our secondary school students the much needed exercise books having conducted a Need Assessment survey of schools that revealed the urgent need to do so. It is our sincere hope that students will maximize this opportunity to have better learning outcome.
“Education has been and shall remain one of the priorities of this administration. That was what informed the staging of the Education Summit held in August, 2023 with the theme “Getting it Right and Revamping Osun Education.” Since the release of the Summit Report as well as the White Paper thereof, our government has started the gradual implementation of the recommendations one after the other. Notable amongst our steps are:
“Recruitment of teachers into public primary and secondary schools in the State. Screening process is still on-going and would be completed soon; Implementing to letters the controversial Federal Circular on “New Retirement Age for Teachers” which has been on course and the few that applied for post service re-engagement shall be interviewed soon just as the circular dictates;
“Vacancies created by retirement of school heads across the State has been filled with capable hands leaving no vacum in school management; Fortifying schools security system by engaging Peace Corps of Nigeria, Osun State Command as school policing and neighbourhood watch to schools. That was in addition to the existing cadets of Edumarshal. These were targetted at ensuring that students and pupils operate in peaceful atmosphere that learning demands.
“Revamping the Federal Home Grown School Feeding Programme (‘O’Meals) in the State to ensure continuity of the programme in spite of all odds ocassioned by high cost of food items. Good enough, our effort does not go unnoticed, as I speak here, a team led by the Senior Special Assistant on Federal Home Grown School Feeding, Abuja is in Osun State to conduct a “Value for Money” study that will bring help our way; Parents teachers Association has been relaunched and commissioned to inter-face between parents, schools, education MDAs and government; with a view to sustaining responsive and responsible parents.
“Our appeal as a government is for all of us to accept change. It is inevitable and desirable. By accepting change we shall not be complacent. All parents and other stakeholders must repose confidence in the public education system in the State.”
In his welcome address, the State Commissioner for Education, Eluwole Sunday Adedipo appealed to the Governor to sustain the prioritising of education and give life to the people.
