The former Commissioner for Education in Oyo-State, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela has condemned the decision of the incumbent state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde for cancellation and dissolution of School Governing Board (SGB) constituted by late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
Makinde in a circular letter from State ministry of Education has directed the sack of the entire 643 School Governing Boards (SGBs) of public secondary schools in the state.
Justifying his decision, the governor disclosed that it was in furtherance to his administration’s determination to reposition the School Governing Boards (SGBs) in the state.
The immediate past administration in the state, led by late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, had in 2016 unveiled the new education policy of the state, which devolves powers to the Schools Governing Board (SGB) for the management of public schools.
Late Governor Ajimobi noted that the policy shift was informed by what he called the unacceptable mass failure of students in public examination over the years, a development, he said, was not in tandem with the appellation of the state as a pacesetter.
According to him, “It is shameful that Oyo State that hosts the first university in the country is performing woefully in public examinations. That is why we say no to automatic promotion; we should all join hands to revamp our education in order not to mortgage the future of our children.
“We decided to implement the recommendations of the committee set up to look into how we can revamp our education sector. This informed the adoption of the SGB model, which would comprise all the stakeholders, such as community leaders, parents’ teachers association, old students, head girl/boy, among others.
“I appreciate the efforts and enthusiasm of everybody here and I’m of no doubt that you are all willing to collaborate with the government in this renewed altruistic effort aimed at repositioning the education sector in the state.”
He added that the governing board of each school would determine the modality for the management of each school based on their peculiarities, and that the government would continue to support the schools financially.
Checks revealed that its membership (SGB) were drawn from accredited representative of Parent-Teacher Association, accredited representative of Old Students’ Association, accredited non-partisan Community leader, Head Boy/Head Girl of the school, the School Principal to serve as Secretary, the Local Inspector of Education (LIE), representative of Local Government, Council/LCDA and identified philanthropists.
Also, SGBs members are not entitled to any form of remuneration from government.
According to the white paper, “the functions of the SGB shall include improving the Quality of school programmes and efficiency of teachers, while the government would be responsible for payment of salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff, curriculum development and quality control among others.
However, Governor Makinde, in the circular letter obtained online, signed by one C.O Bolaji (Mrs) for the state Commissioner for Education, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, enjoined the principals to ensure that all school (s) materials in the Board’s custody are handed over to the school authority before their departure.
The circular letter, dated 11th May, 2021, also read, “In furtherance to this administration’s determination to reposition the School Governing Boards in Oyo state, I have the directive of the Honorable Commissioner to announce the disssolution of the 643 school governing boards of public secondary schools in the state
“In view of the above, government is immensely appreciative of their contributions to the the development of Education in the state.
“The principals, are however enjoined to ensure that all school (s) materials in the Board’s custody are handed over to the school authority before their departure”.
But while reacting, the former commissioner for education berated the decision noting that the governor’s decision will rather do a disservice to educational development in the state. He added that if the governor allows the SGB members, they would have been able to fix the decays in the schools in ten years time.
Olowofela in a chat with LiveTimesNG on Saturday said: “Makinde will cry for cancellation and dissolution of School Governing Board (SGB). He is not aware of the infrastructural decay in Oyo-State Education, the days he knows, he will weep.
“SGB would have been able to fix the decays in ten years time”, he said.
Below are some pictures that show the level of infrastructural decays in public Primary and secondary schools in Oyo State…
