Education

There are strong links between the level of education of a community and its growth and development. Having been a product of free education system of the Bola Ige administration in the 1980s, I take it as a duty to ensure that no child is left educationally disadvantaged in Oyo State. Through projects and policies, my dream is to ensure free qualitative education in the state.

REVIEW OF EDUCATION CAMPAIGN PROMISES

(ONE YEAR IN OFFICE)

1. Increase Access to Quality Education at Primary and Secondary Levels for all Eligible Oyo State Children by 10%.

Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration inherited over 400,000 out-of-school children in Oyo State. Within the first year in office, His Excellency has, through various programmes, policies and interventions shot beyond his projections and increased access to quality education at primary and secondary levels by 11.3%. This was achieved through:

• Scrapping of all educational levies including the N3,000.00 education levy for senior secondary school students.

• 10% in reduction in fees in the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora,

• Free conduct of state examinations such as placement and screening exercise examination for admission into JSS 1.

• Distribution of free report cards to public secondary school students across the state to the tune of N23,849,300.00

• Distribution of text books to students in public secondary schools across the state to the tune of N2,053,623,025.71

• Distribution of 2,782,806 customized note books to students in public secondary schools in the state;

• Release of funds for the conduct of 2019 Common Entrance Examinations in the 33 LGAs and 35 LCDAs.

2. Encourage private providers to provide quality and affordable education to Oyo State.

The Oyo State Government under Governor Seyi Makinde has ensured that private schools are carried along in the implementation of its programmes and policies. For example, private secondary school students across Oyo State benefited from the distribution of free compendium of past questions given to all SS3 students in the state.

3. Provision of scholarships for brilliant students to encourage competition in public schools.

(Not yet commenced)

4. Pursue the enactment of an enabling law to keep school-age children out of the street during school hours.

There is an existing law for basic education. The Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act, 2004.

5. Raise the government budget to at least 10% in our first year in office. This will then be increased yearly afterwards in order to meet UNESCO recommended standards.

Upon taking over office in 2019, Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration reviewed the entire state budget downwards by 57% but increased the budgetary allocation to education from about 3% to 10%. In the 2020 budget, the educational sector’s budget was raised to 22.3%. This is above the UNESCO recommended standard of 15-20%.

6. Seek alumni support for the development of individual schools.

The Oyo State Government collaborated with alumni associations to support individual schools for all round development. Various intervention projects were carried out by Old Students’ Associations of schools like Government College, Apata; Bishop Phillips Academy, Ibadan; African Church Grammar Schools, Apata; Anwar-Ul-Islam Grammar School, Eleyele, Ibadan; and Oranyan Grammar School, Oyo.

7. Seek support from foundations and international donors.

The Oyo State Government collaborated with the World Bank, UNICEF, UNESCO, and the British Council in the development of the education sector. Oyo State is one of the beneficiaries of a $125M grant to Nigeria from the Global Partnership for Education (2) fund.

8. Seek support from private organisations.

The Oyo State Government has collaborated with the following private organisations in the past one year:

• Airtel Nigeria, a telecommunication service provider, partnered with the state government in its Education in Emergency Program by providing 500MB of free data to each of the SS3 students in the state to access School-on Air Videos and for easy access of e-learning facilities on the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology’s website.

• Educational Advancement Centre (EAC), Ibadan partnered with the state by making its School-On-Air Videos available free for Oyo State students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• SMART UP Ltd, an I.T. firm in Lagos gave free access to its CBT past questions to all Oyo State Students via the Ministry’s website (www.oysgedu.ng)

• A private organization called OYO-ILE Investors Forum donated 8 Million Naira to support the state on its 2020 Free JAMB Extramural Classes organized for the SSS 3 students across the state.

9. Improve teachers’ quality through adequate training and development.

The Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) Oyo State, organised training for public secondary school principals and vice-principals in the six educational zones in November/December, 2019. Also, a series of ICT trainings were organized for ICT teachers in the state’s public secondary schools.

10. Provision of adequate pedagogical resources for effective teaching.

The Oyo State Government has started providing pedagogical resources by leveraging ICT to achieve effective teaching in all its public secondary schools by making available e-books in Senior Secondary School subjects, past questions in WASSCE and JAMB, on the Ministry’s website.

11. Refurbish dilapidated school buildings and classrooms.

The Oyo State Government through the State Education Trust Fund (OYETF) and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has carried out massive renovation of classrooms in various schools across the 33 LGAs of the state. These include:

• A block of 3 Classrooms with offices was completed at French Centre Iyagankun,

• Construction of 4 Compartment Toilets at French Documentation Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan

• Rehabilitation of 2 blocks of 4 classrooms with offices and toilets (Block C & D) at Government Technical College, Saki,

• Rehabilitation of 4 Unit Science Laboratories at Government Technical College, Saki,

• Construction of Bricks/ Block laying and Concreting Department at Government Technical College, Ogbomoso

• Rehabilitation of a block of 6 classrooms ICT building at Government Technical College, Ogbomoso, Ogbomoso.

• Construction of Drawing Studio and rehabilitation of Service and alignment workshop at Government Technical College, Iseyin

• Renovation of a block 3 classrooms with offices at St. Joseph Secondary School, Awe

• Renovation of a block of 5 classrooms with office at St. Joseph Secondary School, Awe

• Renovation of a block of 6 classrooms with office at St. Joseph Secondary School, Awe

• Construction of 4 Compartment toilets at St. Joseph Secondary School, Awe and

• Renovation of a block of 6 classrooms with office at Community Commercial High School, Ilora.

• Rehabilitation of a block of 6 classrooms at Durba Grammar School, Oyo

Additionally, SUBEB has completed renovations in forty-eight schools while renovations in sixty schools are ongoing.

12. Provide adequate furniture for students and staff.

In the past one year, the Oyo State Government has supplied furniture to thirty six schools in ten lots, while the supply of furniture to thirty-nine schools is ongoing.

13. Improve class size for effective teaching and learning.

The ongoing teachers’ recruitment exercise for 7,000 teachers is targeted at reducing the high rate of Pupil/Teacher ratio in the state.

14. Supply of equipment for science and laboratories.

Not yet commenced.

15. Effective school feeding programme for pupils to enrich their health and learning capabilities.

The State government has been able to sustain the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme and is also ready to scale up the programme to accommodate Basic 4-6 pupils.

16. Monitor standards of learning and teaching in state schools through an effective team.

The Quality Assurance Department of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has left no stone unturned in ensuring high standard of learning and teaching through regular effective monitoring. This monitoring led to the suspension of thirteen primary school Head Teachers, two Assistant Head Teachers and a classroom Teacher for acts of misconduct including illegal collection of fees.

17. Take stock of the physical, human, material and other facility needs of public schools and ensuring their supply.

With the new data collated at the start of this administration, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is able to better target the physical, human, material needs of public schools. This is evidenced in the on-going teachers’ recruitment exercise and various constructions and renovations of classrooms both completed and ongoing.

18. Set new targets for high performance of the school system in the state.

Oyo State Government set a target of increasing access to education by 10%. This target has been met. Also, the state set a new target of a good number of students of our secondary school graduates score a minimum of 5 credits and above, including English and Mathematics at one sitting in the next WASSCE exams. In order to accomplish this, more attention has been given to students in the terminal classes. For example, students in SS3 received free extra-mural classes. Free JAMB Classes was also organized for the SS3 students. The next national/regional examinations will serve as a test of how effective these interventions have been.

19. Ensure judicious use of available resources to meet stakeholders’ expectations of the school system in the state.

The Honourable Commissioner for Education Science and Technology sensitized all the stakeholders on the need to ensure judicious use of available resources to meet stakeholders’ expectations of the school system in the state. The ongoing termly running costs that comprises of N400,000,000 to secondary schools and N126,000,000 to primary schools. Other interventions are:

• Special release of N500M Naira made to LAUTECH for outstanding salary payments

• N200M Naira released to The Polytechnic, Ibadan for Accreditation of 15 programs

• Sustenance of 100% monthly subvention to all the state-owned tertiary institutions

20. Provision and use of information and communication technology (ICT) facilities in government schools (secondary and tertiary) to enhance teaching and learning. Examples are interactive boards, projectors and computers.

Not yet commenced.

21. Making technical, and polytechnic institutions in the state more practical oriented through real skills acquisition. This could be achieved by linking graduates of these institutions to firms and individuals where they can acquire the relevant skills that will make them practice on their own.

The Oyo State Government has enhanced practical learning in the state by:

• Establishment of Government Technical College (Junior) in Technical College, Ogbomoso to serve as feeder for Colleges at Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Iseyin and Saki

• One Thousand (1,000) out-of-school children, school leavers and women on acquisition of skills were trained for self- reliance in Bead making, Block making, Pastries, Tie and Dye and Painting.

• The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Ibarapa Polytechnic and Oke-Ogun Polytechnic have established vocational skills and entrepreneurial study centres that are both academic and business oriented.

22. Provide financial support to encourage graduates with technical/vocational skill to start their own businesses.

Not yet commenced.

23. Setting up a functional Educational Management Information System (EMIS) for the state. This is a technologically based computer managed data system that aids efficient information management for quality decisions about the education sector.

Under the previous administration, the state established EMIS. So far, the Oyo State Government under Governor Seyi Makinde has sustained the use and application of the system by using the Education Management Information System (EMIS) Unit to manage the Ministry’s website (www.oysgedu.ng) through which the Education in Emergency programme of the state government during the COVID-19 Pandemic period is being executed. Through the website the students were able to access e-library, e-school, CBT, real-time online students’ records, teachers’ information and parent’s information.

Development of EMIS UNIT is on-going.

24. Regulating the operation of private schools in the state. This will ensure that private schools operate in line with the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard that guarantees quality educational service delivery.

The Ministry of Education Science and Technology’s field officers have been able to monitor private schools to ensure their compliance with the Oyo State Government’s policies in the establishment of private schools across the state.

25. Introduction of Adult Literacy Programme to promote lifelong learning among the growing population.

The Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education (AANFE) was already established in1987and inaugurated in February, 1988. However, under the present administration the State Government has been able to provide second chance opportunities for adults and youth learners by increasing the learning centres from one (1) to five (5) per Local Government. For this reason, 34 Adult Educators are to be recruited for the Agency.

26. Bridge the gender gap.

Oyo State has received an initial BESDA grant of $3m (initiated by the previous administration) to commence the educational programmes in Ona-ara, Kajola, Surulere, Saki West, Akinyele, Olorunsogo, Iseyin, Saki East, Oyo West, Ogbomosho South, Ogbomosho North and Iwajowa to support over 170,000 out-of-school children. The money is being targeted to address the gender gap in female education.

27. Teacher/pupil ratio to 1:30.

The on-going teachers’ recruitment in the state is targeted at bringing Teacher/pupil ratio to 1:30 in the state public schools. The recruitment was suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

28. Ensure that a good number of students of our secondary school graduates score a minimum of 5 credits and above, including English and Mathematics at one sitting.

The Oyo State Government organised free extramural classes for the SSS 3 Students in all the public secondary schools across the state. Special English Language and Mathematics Tutorial Classes were also organised to ensure better performance of students in external examinations.

29. Full implementation of UBE laws.

The Oyo State Government paid the counterpart fund of N1.5 billion for 2019 and has also paid counterpart funding for 2018 left unpaid by the previous administration. Efforts to access the Special Needs Education grant of N83.1billion budgeted within 2005 and 2019 and an outstanding Teachers’ Professional Development fund of N554 billion allocated between year 2009 and 2018 are ongoing. There is also ongoing sensitization on the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act, 2004.

30. Paying special attention to underserved geographical areas in Oyo State.

In order to ensure even spread of development, renovation of secondary school buildings are taking place in 22 Local Government Areas including the remotest part of the state. In all 60 Classrooms are undergoing renovation while 30 new classrooms are being constructed.They are to be completed within 6 weeks at a cost of N465,951,679.58 in the following schools:

• Ijokodo High School, Ijokodo

• Oluyole Estate Grammar School, Ibadan

• Olubadan Grammar School, Orita Aperin

• Anglican Grammar School, Agbirigidi

• Ifelodun Community Grammar School, Odinjo, Ibadan

• Ajia Community High School, Ajia

• Community High school, Bako, Omi-Adio

• Durba Grammar School, Oyo

• Fashola Grammar School, Oyo

• School of Science, Oyo

• Community Grammar School, Otamokun

• Tewure Grammar School, Tewure

• Ansarudeen High School, Hamama, Ogbomoso

• Adimula Community Grammar School, Igboho

• Islamic High School, Igbeti

• Kisi Community High School, Kisi

• Bishop Ajayi Crowther Memorial Grammar School, Osogun

• Otu Community Grammar School, Otu

• Lajorun High School, Igboora

• Okolo Community Grammar School,Okolo near, Eruwa

• Muslim Secondary School, Agbonle, Saki

• Christ Grammar School, Saki

31. Attention to groups with special needs.

Governor Seyi Makinde appointed a Special Adviser on Special Needs Children/ Citizens of the State. He has also provided essential facilities and subvention to Special Homes accommodating special needs students/pupils. Efforts to access the Special Needs Education grant of N83.1billion budgeted within 2005 and 2019 is ongoing.

32. Ensuring the sustainability of externally supported Initiatives through the enhanced capacity building of officials.

The state ensured regular participation of its relevant officials at every capacity building workshops/meetings organized by UNICEF, UNESCO, World Bank and other International Development Partners (IDPs).

33. Ensuring relevance of curriculum at all levels.

Adherence to NERDC Curriculum at all levels of education is adequately ensured.

34. Ensure professional and pedagogical upgrading of teachers.

The training exercise for all teachers in Oyo State will follow after the completion of the teacher recruitment exercise. The recruitment exercise was suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

35. Development of sustainable quality assurance mechanisms.

Not yet commenced

36. Develop a sustainable educational teaching and learning materials policy.

Not yet commenced

37. Institutionalise the monitoring of learning achievement at school level.

Not yet commenced.

38. Ensure adequate provision of quality buildings and classrooms for all education sub-sectors.

Renovation, construction and rehabilitation of structures and facilities are ongoing across the state.

39. Institutionalise maintenance culture for physical facilities and infrastructure.

Renovation, construction and rehabilitation of structures and facilities are ongoing across the state.

40. Institutionalise Education Sector Expenditure tracking.

Not yet commenced.