The association of private school owners in Oyo State has commended the state government for coming up with the Oyo State Model Education System Interventions (OYOMESI) initiative to ensure that education in the state meets up with international standard.
The state’s Presidents, Association Model of Islamic Schools (AMIS), Alhaji Lawal Abass and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Pastor Kayode Adeyemi gave the commendations shortly after the workshop training on School Safety for private school owners organized by OYOMESI Project Committee, held at the Western Hall, House of Assembly Complex, Secretariat, Ibadan.
In their separate addresses, Oyo AMIS President, Alhaji Lawal Abass expressed that it is pertinent to commend the government for putting a programme like OYOMESI in place to ameliorate the level of risks that used to happen in schools.
He described the workshop training as a very educative and laudable one that will go a long way in assisting the school owners in the school risks management.
Pastor Kayode Adeyemi, who is the Oyo State NAPPS president, commended the efforts of the organizers for the interactive approach used to educate and enlighten the participants. He commended the government for the passionate desire to see that education in Oyo State meets up with global standard.
In her address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Dr. Bisi Akin-Alabi stated that the purpose of the training is to raise the level of safety awareness among education stakeholders in the state. She added that education is incomplete without safety.
She noted that the training will go a long way to assist not only the school owners, but also their teachers to learn about class control and behavior management to reduce the level of risks in the schools.
The Special Adviser gave series of examples on why it is important for school owners to prioritize safety education in their schools.
Dr. Akin-Alabi further noted that the focus of Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led government through OYOMESI is to increase access for all to sound and quality education – both in the public and private schools.
In his welcome address, the Special Assistant on Education, Mr. Adekola Adewuyi disclosed that “it is the responsibility of every stakeholder to ensure that security of lives of children within our care is guaranteed as recognized by the United Nations, as right to education, good and sound health and protection”.
Adekola, while commending the participants for their turn out for the training, urged them to put whatever they learnt into practice to ensure safety not only in their schools, but the state at large.
While presenting her paper, the school safety administrator, Negesti said that the OYOMESI School Safety Compliance Drive (OSSCD) is to make school safe by preventing avoidable risks, raising general safety awareness among the school team, protecting pupils from hazards and demonstrating the Sustainable Development Goals 4.
She identified the key principles of OYOMESI as partnership, people, places and policies, plans and procedures.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
