The state government under the leadership of Governor Abiola Ajimobi has put necessary measures in place to restructure the education sector in the state.
For now, part of this plan is the Oyo State Model Education System Interventions (OYOMESI), which was set in motion in April 2017 with all schools in the states given the opportunity to key into.
This was contained in a press statement issued and jointly signed by Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s aides on education, Dr. Bisi Akin-Alabi, Special Adviser, Hajjia Bolatito Adebisi, Senior Special Assistant and Mr. Adekola Adewuyi, Special Assistant on behalf of the committee while responding to comments credited to Barrister Femi Falana over the state’s state of education.
Dr. Akin-Alabi, who is the leader of the team articulated that such unfounded statement is not expected from a legal luminary of the caliber of Femi Falana. She added that many believe he should have first class information on a subject by conducting a simple research before making such nebulous statement capable of misleading the public.
She opined that only persons with malicious intents will say Governor Abiola Ajimobi has not done anything in education since taking over the mantle of leadership in the state in 2011, when there are facts and figures to support the achievements recorded in the last six years of the current administration.
According to her, “Governor Abiola Ajimobi, having understood the benefits of education and known it as the bedrock of every development, therefore, embarked on policies that will reposition the state to its original status when he came on board in 2011. Prior to 2011 the highest number of students passing WAEC was not up to 8,000, this has steadily increased over the years to over 17,000 currently. This is an over 100% improvement”.
Dr. Akin-Alabi also pointed out that Governor Ajimobi as a result of his good intention to make education accessible to all and sundry ordered the reduction of tuition fees at all state owned institutions by 50% in 2011. In the same vein, he abolished policy of automatic promotion in secondary schools in order to ensure increase in the standards of education by improving academic attainments of students at various external examinations.
Her words, “Governor Ajimobi believed that management of schools in the state should be the duty of every stakeholder thereby formulated the policy of School Governing Board (SGB), involving old students’ associations, community and religious leaders as well as interested non-governmental organizations with the purpose of enhancing students’ efficiency and performance in all examinations in about 628 public secondary schools across the state.
“The Governor is tireless and brave in ensuring the much needed reforms and restoration of values and decency in learning is achieved. As such, in order to restore moral values that have eluded the education system in the state, put together various forms of intervention strategies to inculcate character education, value for integrity, honesty and respect called Oyo State Model Education System Interventions (OYOMESI).
“A strategic and holistic approach to raising attainment in education and learning by using short term interventional strategies and principles to find solutions for a better education system that will influence teachers, pupils, parents’ attitude focus, beliefs for pursuits of wholesome education offering in the state.
“Through this OYOMESI initiative alone, over 5,000 WAEC revision exam series were distributed in all secondary schools in the state to prepare pupils ahead of external examinations in April this year; Mobile Phone Exam Revision Applications was launched and presented to students at the Prime Quality Time held in May 2017, to enable students have access to the past questions. Also, character education scrap books were distributed to all school pupils.
“Laptops were distributed to selected public schools to Pilot OYOMESI e-learning tool; enhance the performance of teachers and students. All these were done not only to improve standards but also the quality of education delivery in Oyo State.
“The state government is working assiduously not to leave any stone unturned towards realising the set target as far as education is concerned in the state” she concluded.
The Special Adviser, therefore, urged Barrister Femi Falana and others with malicious intents to take their time to look through facts and figures before they comment and jump into hasty conclusions on matter they know little or nothing about.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
