The State of Osun’s education system will soon be the best in Nigeria when all the state of the art Model Schools under construction are completed. This will consolidate all the efforts of the present administration in ensuring a smooth system of education for all pupils in the state.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran disclosed this while answering questions from pressmen in his office on the present state of Education in Osun. Mr. Oyeniran maintained that, the reclassification of schools into elementary, middle and high schools is in tandem with current international trends in the United Kingdom (UK) and United States of America (USA).

He noted that people now understand the reasons for the reclassification and are beginning to appreciate the wisdom behind it. He said though, there were teething challenges at the initial stage of  the implementation, it will soon fizzle out. Mr. Oyeniran stressed that, the available data in schools show that, public school enrollment is on the increase especially with the recently commissioned Salvation Army Middle School in Alekuwodo Osogbo where most parents and students prefer as their first choice based on the educational facilities provided there.

He added that, the Government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is very much alive to its responsibilities of providing good governance for the people through proactive measures by creating tablets of knowledge “Opon-Imo” which has made teaching and learning easier for students. He urged the people of the state to continue to give their unalloyed support to the government for the realization of the Six- Points Integral Action Plan, most importantly the provision of qualitative education in the state.

OSUNNEWSPORTAL
 

Attorney General and the Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Wale Afolabi has presented the score sheet for the year 2013 budget to the State of Osun House of Assembly on behalf of his Ministry.

The Commissioner, who was accompanied by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Abiola Adewemimo, political appointees and principal officers in the ministry, stated that, the Ministry has scored 71 percent expenditure and 57.78 percent on recurrent expenditure.

He also claimed that the Rent Tribunal has increased from two (2) to nine (9) making it one tribunal for each constituency to facilitate speedy trial and timely judgment. In addition, eighteen (18) Magistrates were appointed and seventeen state counsel were employed through the Civil Service Commission.

He further stated that the ministry’s library is under rehabilitation with the aim of upgrading it to E-library. This will be ready for commissioning anytime from now.

Chairman House Committee on Budget and Appropriation Hon. Kamil Oyedele commended the Attorney General and his team for the fantastic report and also implored them to improve in their activities.

OSUNNEWSPORTAL

THE Guild of Tourism Journalists of Nigeria (GTJ) has called on the Governor of the State of Osun, Mr Rauf Aregbesola on the Hassan Olajokun Park strategically located at the Gbongan junction, for the benefit of travelers, tourists and motorists.
The members of the association led by its President, Wale Ojo – Lanre, during a tour of the park on Friday, commended Governor Aregbesola for the successful completion of the park located at the critical Gbongan-Osogbo link Road junction along the Ife – Ibadan Expressway which, if in operation, will save a lot of people from being plagued by road stress.
The guild noted that the completion of the park with chalets, conference room, event centre, restaurant, toilets, recreation centre and kids place and many other amenities is a noble idea that would boost the economy of the state by luring travellers on that road to have a break on their journey and spend time, money, know more about the state and relax
The association pointed out: “We are impressed with the rate at which the government concluded the project. Now, you can break your journey instead of giving yourself too much stress on the road. You can relax at the park which has a lot of facilities that tourists and travellers will find suitable for their pleasure.”
It remarked that “The concept of the park is lovely. Corporate organisations can come into the place for retreats and other functions.
The park is not only spacious but well situated. The beauty of the park is that the government made adequate consideration for security and medical needs of the tourists by not only building a police post inside the park but also providing a stand by ambulance bus strategically placed outside the park for emergency usse.
“The association urged other state governors to borrow a leaf from the Governor of Osun State. A traveller going through that road to Abuja or North should have places like the park to relax. It will ease the stress of travel. There should be over five or more of such parks along the way to Abuja. If for any reason the traveller decides to make a stop-over, such traveler will be able to lodge without stress.”
The association however tasked Governor Aregbesola: “We implore the governor to gear up action on the park which is first of its kind in the country. We look forward to the government making the park a Public-Private Partnership venture. We do not want to see that beautiful concept run aground with unnecessary bureaucracy and red tape.
“We want to see it put into use in no distance future because the Christmas Festival is fast approaching. The park should be a beehive of activities, thereby generating income for the state and improving the economy of Gbongan and its environ.
TRIBUNE

Ayedun Sikiru, the State of Osun’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, is a chartered transporter and maritime expert. He believes that tourism can boost the state’s economy. In this interview, he explains the government’s efforts to make Osun a tourism haven, among other issues.

 Tax Officers led by the Director, Investigation and Audit, Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Ishola Oludare embarked on a tour of the Osogbo metropolis to meet business men and women with the mission of assessing their tax payments and educating them on the importance of paying tax.

In his address, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Femi Balogun, represented by the Director of Investigation and Audit, made it known to the public that, tax payment is everyone’s civil responsibility. He further explained that tax paid is used for the overall development of the state. He then urged the people to desist from any untoward act which will hinder the effective collection of tax but rather become ambassadors themselves seeing the great works and innovations going on in the State.

The tour has been a great success given that all the places visited, the people seemed enthusiastic,  taking time to  respond to the questionnaires given to them. Places covered include business locations along Iwo-Ibadan Road, Alekuwodo, among others.

Association of Dietitians in Nigeria (ADN) have commended the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for providing free meals to the Students of Primary Schools in the State of Osun.

Mr. Tajudeen Olutope Ahmed on behalf of the Professional Nutritionists and Dietitians in Nigeria disclosed this in a signed statement.

 The Association considered the state of Osun’s policy on providing free meal to pupils and students of primary schools as a most welcome development highlighting how this policy will contribute immensely to the nutritional status of the pupils and consequently increase their intelligence quotient.

 In the statement, the Association pledged to collaborate with the administration in the implementation and sustainability of the O’meal Scheme thereby urging the Governor ensure the necessary structures are in place for continuity of the free school meal programme.

As part of efforts to ensure healthy living condition among the populace in the State of Osun, the Aregbesola administration on Monday October 28, 2013 commissioned and donated health materials for integrated measles campaign to the 30 Local Government Council and Area Office in order to curb the spread of the disease.
At the commissioning ceremony held at the Ministry of Health, Abere, Osogbo, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mrs Temitope Ilori, stressed the need for vaccination and immunization among children to help curtail the menace.
The materials donated were; measles vaccines, de-worming drug, vitamin C, mega phones among others. Ilori observed that good health care delivery to the people of the state regardless of their political affiliation is of utmost concern to the present administration, hence the need to visit the remote communities to help kick measles out of the state’’. According to Ilori, Over 10,000 personnel had been trained and recruited in the state and local government levels for the exercise.
The Health Commissioner noted that  the flagging off exercise is expected to come up on November  2, while the sensitization programme ends by November  11. She urged the people of the state to come out en mass to support the government in kicking out measles.
In her welcome address, the State Immunization Officer, Mrs Ade Osun, urged the people of the state to embrace the opportunity, by volunteering themselves to be immunized when the exercise kicked off. Ade Osun said, the exercise is aimed at protecting children from nine  months to five years, against the deadly disease in the state. She urged every member of the society to join in the crusade against measles, instead of staying indoors and dying of ignorance. The State Immunization Officer said ‘’prevention is better than cure’’, it is better to kick measles out before measles kick us out.
In another related development, the Commissioner for Health in Osun, Mrs Temitope Ilori, on Monday said,  quick response to breast cancer, brings about quick recovery which helps to sustain life. Ilori made this disclosed this in an exclusive chat during the breast cancer screening exercise organized for women in the Federal Constituency.
Ilori stated that early discovery is the best way to cure such a deadly disease and the state government has put all machinery in motion to ensure that the screening exercise and treatment of victims are appropriately carried out’’.
The Medical Director of the State Hospital, Mr Ojo Idowu, said the present administration had really done a great job by ensuring sound healthcare delivery to its citizens. Idowu said, the State Hospital have the highest numbers of patients coming from neighboring states and trans-boarder patients for medical treatments. He commended the state government, for the upgrading and rehabilitation of the hospital Infrastructures, as he believes the health of the people is utmost priority to the government.
Speaking on behalf of other participants, Mrs Bashiratu Akibu, from  Masakin’s compound Iwo said, the state government has really done a great thing for the people of Iwo that will surely save lives as the exercise continues. In her words: ”prevention is better than cure and the earlier the symptom is discovered, the better the chances of the patient recovering quickly.
The Commissioner seized the opportunity of the screening exercise to inspect the ongoing renovation at the hospital. Some of the visited units at the hospital include; Infant Welfare and Clinic, Ante-natal Clinic, Dental Clinic and the Kitchen among others.
BIOREPORTS

The Government of the State of Osun has again been commended for its commitment to the employment of youths thereby reducing the rate of unemployment in the state and Nigeria at large.

Mr Bunmi Otegbade, a representative of a US/Nigeria non-profit organization which specializes in the training of youths, empowering them to be self-employed and employers of labour  gave the commendation recently at a programme held at the Executive Lounge of the State Secretariat, Abere.

The programme which featured the pitching of sixty O-YES cadets who have been trained in different businesses had as its main targets audience, individuals and youths who did not have University Education

 Mr. Otegbade said youths who were admitted into the O-YES scheme and have been given exit opportunities will forever be grateful to the present administration under the leadership of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, saying that the programme is another exit point for the O-YES cadets.

He further urged Investors to be confident in investing in the youths as all they need to know have been instilled in them and can be sure of success in their respective businesses. The Director-General, Office of Economic Planning and Partnership in the state, Dr. Charles Akinola lauded the efforts of the youths, saying if many join in the race of being self employed and employers of labour, the unemployment rate in the country will be greatly be reduced.

The programme afforded the youths the opportunity of showcasing their wares, the type of business they are into, the amount they have invested, the profits made so far within the period of 3 months and amount needed from investors.

OSUNNEWSPORTAL

The merging of public schools in Osun State has generated a considerable dissipation of sentiments bordering on needless controversy in the media lately. While a critical section of the public to which the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has lent its face by giving the government an ultimatum to rescind its decision, has condemned the move as being tendentious, a handful of others including experienced educationists like Dr Modupe Fagbulu and Professor Olasupo Ladipo have pitched their tents on the side of rationality and endorsed the move.
On separate occasions, both eminent persons have given reasons why the present intervention of the government in public education in the state was not only necessary but urgent. Professor Ladipo said in an interview; “The educational system went bad because we had too many schools and were unable to equip them adequately. Education is expensive and requires equipment. Modern education requires expenses on all the modern amenities. If we do not merge, we will not be able to afford to give sound education to our children who are the future of this nation.”
Before the merging of these public schools that are exclusively financed with public funds, service delivery in the sector had ebbed terribly. Even the so called poor people avoided public primary schools like a plague despite the fact that the more experienced and better trained teachers are there. They would rather send their children to private nursery and primary schools where they imagine their children stand the chance of a head start. Many of these public primary schools lack pupils to justify their existence and they have been visited by such dilapidation that they have become death traps.
If the poor can struggle to avoid public primary schools, they may not be able to sponsor their children and wards to private secondary schools where the fees are steep. Besides, public education is the only avenue through which any society can hope to replenish itself with a better generation and develop its human capital because it offers education to the rich and poor alike. Private education can only take care of the rich who, as it has been proved throughout human history, do not have the exclusive preserve of genius. What will society do to its members that are geniuses but poor? Are they to be left to waste and become human debris? What will be the implication of that on social security? Avenues like public education are what the society use to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor and prevent the anarchy that may result when the number of the social malcontents increases in geometric progression.
This is the premise for public education through which the government can hope to deliver the greatest good for the greatest number to its citizens. But for a long time now, these public schools have failed dismally in this function. The public institutions have gone to seed and any pupil in any of these schools will have to be exceptionally brilliant to pass out with enough credits to earn a place in any institution of higher learning that is worth its salt. It is against this backdrop that the reclassification of schools in Osun should be seen as expedient in order to bring back the glory of these public schools.
Dr Modupe Fagbulu, a retired education planner observed while speaking with reporters recently that when it was obvious that some schools were not viable to operate alone they had to be merged for efficiency and optimal performance in order to restore the lost glory of these public primary and secondary schools which he described as a crucial foundation for any child. It is better to have few schools that are delivering in terms of imparting knowledge to the students and developing human capital than having many schools that cannot answer for the name they are called and churn out massive failures.
Many of these schools lack infrastructure like libraries and laboratories that are crucial to learning. Perhaps the government will seize the opportunity of reclassification to employ seasoned teachers and school administrators and guidance counsellors for these new mega schools at all the levels of elementary, middle and senior schools in order to ensure that the service delivery is both comprehensive and successful in terms of the quality of students passing out from these institutions.
The critics however have based their resentment of the reclassification of schools on sentiments. Although sentiments can have a powerful effect on public perception and politics is in the main perception, yet it is more important and positively functional to eschew sentiments now for the overall need to rescue these public schools from the dysfunction which they represent as they are currently.
The people in Osun really do not have a dilemma to my mind in making a choice between improving the schools through merging and reclassification and thus restoring the glory of public education or retaining the old schools based on sentiments like the alumni’s sense of nostalgia or the odd chance of former single sex schools becoming co-ed or not.
The government of Osun State should see the resistance only as a normal response of the people to change.  It should allay their anxiety and prove itself as a trustworthy outfit that would make the revolution replicable in other states as a result of its success.
TRIBUNE