After the adoption of February 2011 education summit communique in Osun State by Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration, the state has witnessed major reform in the sector. However, the new revolution, has brought about reactions from some stakeholders in the state. The Deputy Governor, Osun State who also doubles as Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Iyaafin Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori in this interview with reporters at the State House addressed some lingering questions that surround the reformation of education in Osun. Excerpts:
Your Excellency, why did your government reclassify Osun schools into Elementary, Middle and High Schools?
The Aregbesola Administration on assumption of office inherited an education system that was in a state of complete neglect and rot resulting in dilapidated infrastructure, absenteeism and low school enrolment, overcrowded classrooms, shortage of instructional materials, poorly motivated teachers, with attendant abysmal performance of students in both internal and external examinations.
The need to urgently tackle the situation headlong was the reason for the education summit of February 2011 under the chairmanship of Prof Wole Soyinka. The communique of the summit has been adopted by government for implementation of its education reform agenda.
These reforms include the 0-Meals programme, O-Uniform, Creation of 3 Education Districts and appointment of Tutors General/Permanent Secretary, creation of Teachers Establishment and Pensions Office (TEPO), Opon Imo, Improved funding of schools to mention a few. Thus, the reclassification of schools aims at consolidating the gains of the various reforms to achieve a total overhaul of the education sector.

The new system is in line with global best practices for effective teaching and learning the world over by grouping pupils/ students of same age brackets together in same school environment with provision of relevant and appropriate facilities. Some other reasons for reclassification can be summarized as follows:To avoid multiplicity of mushroom schools that compete with scarce resources of the State.
To pool resources together to enjoy economy of scale for maximization of the scarce resources of the State. It is more economical to cater for 300 pupils/students in one school than in three schools of 100 pupils/students each. Our erstwhile school system in the state has schools with as low as 30 pupils total enrolment in primaries one to six.
It is to remove financial burden of education completely from parents through provision of modern facilities, furniture and improved funding. To democratize education and provide equal opportunities for all pupils/ students without discrimination. To make our public schools to be comparable to the private schools in terms of facilities and to reduce pupils/ students to teacher ratio from the current abnormal rate of 60-100 pupils/ students to a teacher to the UNESCO standard.
What are the features of the new school system ?
Under the new school system, the old primary and secondary education sector is reclassified into Elementary, Middle and High schools with the following features:
Elementary School:
Pupils will be in Grades 1-4 classes; age range of 6-9 years. They are to be neighborhood schools, not to be too far from areas of residence, trade and work place of parents. Daily activities will run from 8 am to 2 pm with enrollment at maximum capacity of 900 pupils in cities and big towns but those in rural communities may have less population.
Purpose built state of the arts school, securely fenced and equipped with modern facilities.
Other programmes that are specially designed to enhance this new school structure for optimal performance include; 0- Meal school feeding programme, provision of unified school uniform for all pupils, increased schools’ running cost and examination grants, and supply of instructional materials as well as customized exercise books. Middle School:
Students will be in Grades 5-9 classes; age range of ID-14 years. Daily activities will run from 8 am to 3 pm and to be sited within maximum of 2-3 kilometers radius of where students live. Enrollment of 900 pupils to 1000. Purpose built state of the arts school, securely fenced with modern facilities. Provision of unified school uniform, increase schools’ running cost and examination grants, supply of instructional materials and customized exercise books. High School:
Students will be in Grades 10-12 classes; age range of 15-17 years. Enrollment to be 3000 students; a 3-schools in -1 complex at 1000 students per school. Daily activities to run from 8 am to 5 pm. Purpose built state of the arts school with modern facilities including boarding facilities, staff quarters, standard laboratories, food courts, standard sporting facilities, school hall of 1000 minimum sitting capacity and School Managers for proper facility management. Provision of unified school uniform, supply of Opon Imo, increased schools’ running cost and examination grant, payment of WASCE fees, etc
A general feature of the new school system is the provision of standard furniture for all pupils/students and teachers thereby abolishing the obnoxious practice of bringing furniture from homes by students, especially in the erstwhile secondary schools.
Your Excellency, don’t you think the new school system may conflict with the National Policy on Education (NPE)?
The new system does not conflict with the National Policy on Education, especially the modified 9-3-4 and the National Curriculum still in use in Nigeria. Under the new system, the only change is the removal of Primaries 5 & 6 from the primary school sector to join the former Junior Secondary School to form the new Middle School. This makes transition to secondary school easy and automatic for Elementary School pupils.
Our new system of 4-5-3-4 is simply a strategic re-arrangement of public school pupils and students for proper grooming and optimal management of schools. This will stem and eradicate the out-of-school syndrome in the State of Osun. Pupils/students in Osun still spend 12 years on basic education as stipulated by the NPE and are taught the same curriculum as pupils/students elsewhere in Nigeria.
Pupils/students will also be able to transfer freely into and out of Osun schools. Out going pupils/students will be awarded testimonials to confirm the existing grades with which they can be admitted in to an appropriate class elsewhere in the country. Similarly, incoming pupils/students will be assessed and place in grades appropriate for their ages.
Presently, the public schools in Osun have 3 basic uniforms, how will students of various schools be differentiated?
Each school will affix its badges on the caps/berets and on the uniforms.
Your Excellency, will the new system not lead to pupils/students having to trek long distances from their homes to schools?
The movement of pupils and location of the new school sectors has been done in such a way that pupils of Elementary School in particular will not be far away from their homes or places of trades/work of their parents. In fact the new Elementary Schools are referred to as neighborhood schools on account of their location and proximity to pupils.
Middle Schools have also been located within maximum of 2-3 kilometer radius to places of abode of students. On the other hand, High Schools are located in the outskirts of towns, mostly on old school premises that have large compounds. The High Schools will also have boarding facilities for interested students and staff quarters for teachers.
Will the exercise not lead to loss of jobs by teachers since there will be fewer schools now?
Like the Head- teachers and Principals, teachers and other workers in the education sector will not lose their jobs in the new school system. Teachers will relocate with their pupils/students as the case may be. Members of the public should be mindful of the fact that the government is conscious of the job security of its work force.
The new school system cannot lead to job loss, instead, additional job opportunities will be created because more qualified hands will be required to achieve the many reforms envisaged by the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Administration. Rather than teachers losing their jobs, more teachers will be required as a result of the smaller class sizes arising from the re-classification.
Will the new system favour existence of single sex schools as we have in some secondary schools presently?
As part of its general policy to reposition education in the state, government has phased out single sex
schools in the secondary education sector as this is no longer the practice the world over. Government ispoised to provide standard world class facilities in all our schools and give equal opportunities to all our pupils/students in co- educational setting.
In fact single sex schools will run contrary to the new high school concept and arrangement where we will have fewer schools with larger population of 3000 students per school.
The argument in favour of single sex schools has largely been based on the claim that single sex schools perform better at examinations. However, empirical study has not corroborated this.
A compelling argument in favour of the mixed school system is that it produces a more rounded child ready for the world in which both sexes co-habit the space.
Both sexes living and working together is the natural way humans were designed and it is better to let the pupils experience and learn to accept the consequences of this arrangement in their adolescence.
The third argument is that it is indefensible for a publicly funded institution to deny admission to any
child based on gender if the school in question is the most logical and suitable for the child to attend.
In Osun, it is a policy decision that all public schools will be co-educational (mixed).
Will the new system not lead to loss of identities/ names by the present schools especially the mission schools?
There are no mission schools presently in the State of Osun as all schools were taken over by the government in 1975. It is on record also that majority of the previous owners were compensated at the time although some proprietors declined the compensation. The position in Osun today and indeed all over Nigeria is that all schools are 100% owned, staffed and funded by the state government.
The take-over of schools in 1975 stopped short of changing their names apparently as a mark of respect for the original owners. Be that as it may, the new school system does not tamper with names of schools whether old schools that were re-classified or newly built model schools. A good example is the Salvation Army Middle School at Alekuwodo in Osogbo which was formerly known as Salvation Army Primary school.
Will the new school system not lead to extinction of Old Students Associations?
The new school system does not preclude alumni associations. Old students can always locate themselves not minding where their school is now located. We have seen instances in the past wherein schools were re-classified or re-named and their old students still associate and meet. ‘,
How will students whose schools will no longer exist have access to their records?
Government has made adequate arrangement to ensure safe keeping of all records of pupils/students that may be affected in the exercise. Relevant departments of the State Ministry of Education will ensure that records are kept properly and safely.
Will the new system not lead to religious conflict when pupils/students are moved without considering religion sensibilities or to put it mildly, is the new system religion sensitive?
Religion has not been a factor in the re-classification exercise. We hope that pupils, students, parents and teachers will exhibit the required level of religious tolerance for a peaceful co-existence in the schools which are primarily designed for learning as opposed to the propagation of any religion
Will Muslims pupils/students who choose to wear hijab to school be allowed such in Christian schools?
The issue of hijab remains a controversial issue which predated the re-classification exercise. Dialogue is ongoing with various religious organisations and there will soon be an amicable resolution after which a definite policy decision will be taken. While this is being done, students either Christian or Muslim should ensure that they maintain peace within and outside the school environment.
Why does government not provide the new model school buildings before the re-classification and movement of pupils/students?
Perhaps it should be emphasized that the mandate of the Agency that is saddled with the responsibility of constructing the state-of-the-art schools is different from the re-classification exercise of the new school system. As part of the total reforms of education sector in the state, Government is embarking on building of state-of-the-art schools to replace the dilapidated structures that were inherited.
However, there is no doubt that the new schools being built will complement the re-classification exercise. Infrastructure upgrade was not a pre-condition for re-classification. All that has happened with re-classification was that pupils/students now resume in the appropriate classes. The re-classification has not increased the enrolment; hence the pre-reclassification facilities will still be available to support the post-reclassification needs.
Will the new school system not rob communities, especially in rural areas of their only schools or don’t you think they are likely to resist the move?
The pupils in rural schools are not moved because of distance and certain peculiarities. Such schools have been re-classified. Government will upgrade rural schools to meet the acceptable modern standard as in the urban areas.
Were the relevant stakeholders in the education sector like NIREC, missionary owners of schools, NUT, ANCOPSS, AOPSHON, PTA, NLC, etc consulted and carried along in the exercise?
All relevant stakeholders in education in the state including all those mentioned and some others were consulted and were part of the committees that handled the re-classification at the State and Local Government levels. Each of the bodies contributed meaningfully to achieve an acceptable re-classification exercise.
What becomes the fate of teachers, head teachers and principals in terms of career progression?
Career progression is a purely an establishment matter and the re-classification has nothing to do with it. In fact, the Aregbesola Administration for the first time in the history of the State has created a new Agency, Teachers Establishment and Pension Office, (TEPO), headed by a Permanent Secretary for a more efficient handling of teachers’ establishment matters.
VANGUARD

November 2 2013 was another day of glory for Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Governor, State of Osun in Providence, Rhode Island United
States of America. This was the occasion of the 4th Lecture series of the annual Yoruba Elders International Society, where the Director General, Bureau of Social Services, Femi Ifaturoti delivered the keynote address on the first day of the ‘WHAT WORKS TOUR’ organized by the Society.
In his keynote address Ifaturoti signposted Ogbeni Aregbesola’s innovative approach to governance, especially, his establishment of
the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES), arguably the most audacious program ever initiated by any government , State or Federal. within 97 days of assumption of office as Governor.
In his own presentation, Professor Foluso Okunmadewa Sector Leader, Human Development World Bank Nigeria office told the  audience comprising the representatives of Governor Lincoln Chaffe, Governor of Rhode Island, Michael Solomon, President of the Council of Providence, Mr Lombardi, former Mayor of Providence, the Executives and Council of the Yoruba Elders Society, that the World Bank received inspiration from Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s OYES progamme in establishing YESSO, which is a support program designed to be a replica of Ogbeni’s vision across Nigeria, and that it is available for eligible States, of which Osun is at the forefront.
The President of the council of Providence Mr Michael Solomon expressed profound admiration of  Ogbeni Aregbesola’s bold initiatives, and wished him success at every stage. The Yourba Elders International Society presented an Excellence award plaque to Ogbeni Aregbesola, which was received on his behalf by Mr Femi Ifaturoti, the Director General, Bureau of Social Services, State of Osun, Nigeria.

Sanusi recently noting that the Osun State Government successfully issued a sub-sovereign Sukuk worth N10 billion for building public schools and the issuance was oversubscribed said  “The issuance which was oversubscribed and had a full up take by the originator shows the buoyancy of our capital market and its need to take up new alternative instruments,”.
Following the efficacy of Islamic finance  in attracting liquidity, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Debt Management Office (DMO) and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) are exploring ways to use Sukuk to build airports, railways and refineries.
Speaking at the National Conference on Islamic Banking and Finance in Nigeria, yesterday,  in Abuja, the CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said that, in view of the potentials of Sukuk to develop economies in building infrastructure, the CBN in conjunction with other sister institutions like the Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC), ICRC, DMO have assembled a technical team to explore the prospects of alternative modes of finance and set out the procedures for using the modes in the development of infrastructure.
He stated  that the  team have identified potential projects that could be financed by sovereign and sub-sovereign Sukuk.
“These projects include upgrade, maintenance, repairs and new construction of roads and highways; upgrade, renovation and new construction of airports, rehabilitation of the rail line and the building of a new rail line and railway stations. Part funding for the construction of the planned three refineries and mass housing and light rail for some states in the federation,” he said.
This, he said,  is in addition to the role that Sukuk issuance serves  in  deepening domestic capital markets.
Sanusi noted that the Osun State Government successfully issued a sub-sovereign Sukuk worth N10 billion for building public schools and the issuance was oversubscribed.
“The issuance which was oversubscribed and had a full up take by the originator shows the buoyancy of our capital market and its need to take up new alternative instruments,” he said.
To further underscore the importance of Islamic Sukuk, the governor hinted that the Prime Minister of United Kingdom,  David Cameron, announced the plan to make London not just a capital for Islamic finance to the western world, but one that will stand alongside Dubai and Kuala Lumpur as one of the great capitals of Islamic finance, anywhere in the world.
“The UK plans to do this through the issuance of an Islamic bond Sukuk worth 200 million GBP by the UK Government which it intends to do as early as next year. It also plans to create an islamic index on the London Stock Exchange for Shariah-compliant securities to attract more islamic investors.”
“The UK is embarking on this plan despite the fact that it is a non-Islamic country which illustrates what we have been saying that Islamic finance, though based on sharia, is a financial product with clear goals and it is accessible to all,” he said.
SUN NEWSONLINE

The Bi-monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise scheduled for Saturday, 9th November, 2013, has been postponed, due to National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations holding on the same day.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Sanitation, Hon. Bola Ilori disclosed this in Osogbo.

According to Ilori, the postponement was due to the National Examination Council (NECO), Mathematics’ examination expected to hold on same day.
On the school re-classification programme of the Aregbesola administration, Ilori applauded the courage of conviction and determination of the governor to turn the education sector around for the future of the state.
According to him, with the comprehensive overhaul of the system, the O’ School concept, the introduction of Opon Imo [Tablet of Knowledge] and other reformatory steps taken by government, students in Osun schools have been given an ”unfair advantage” over their peers in public schools across the country.
He called on the critics of the education policy to avail themselves of the information available in the public domain on the direction of government, noting that in a knowledge-driven world that we now live in, all hands should be on deck to ensure Osun produce students who can compete globally instead of looking at all issues from the prism of politics.
Ilori, charged the people to go about their normal activities and ensure that they keep their environment clean despite the postponement of the environmental sanitation.
BIOREPORTS

The State of Osun House of Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam have confirmed the appointments of the officers of the State House of Assembly Service Commission and the State Civil Service Commission after two separate motions were moved.

 Motion to confirm the appointments of the Chairman and members of the State Assembly Service Commission was moved by Hon. Afolabi Atolagbe representing Ifedayo State Constituency and seconded by Hon. Ademola Ajiboye representing Ila State constituency, while that of the State Civil Service Commission was also moved by Hon. Afolabi Atolagbe and seconded by Hon. Babatunde Komolafe representing Atakumosa East and West State Constituency.

The State House of Assembly Service Commission has as its chairman Hon. Hassan Olawuwo (Ifelodun) while members include; Hon. Goke Awotunde (Oriade), Hon. Amos Akjndiya (Olaoluwa) and Hon. James Fasakin (Orolu). Others are Hon. Olagundoye Adegboyega (Ife South), Hon. Kunle Kudaisi (Olorunda) and Alhaji Adegboyega Afolabi (Boripe).

Also, the State Civil Service Commission has as its Chairman, Alhaji Lasisi Olawale (Osogbo) while members include Prince Oluwole Oyebamiji (Egbedore) Alhaja Samrat Bolanle Alabi (Irewole), Prince Awobiyi Robert Ayodeji (Atakumosa East/West) and Mr. Popoola Gabriel Onaadepo (Ifedayo).

Speaking after the confirmation, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for taking time to select people with a wealth of experience and impeccable character to man the affairs of the two important commissions.

While appreciating the contributions of the honourable members of the State House of Assembly towards moving the state forward, the Speaker said every effort will be made to give autonomy to the State Assembly Commission in the discharge of its duties.

OSUN NEWS PORTAL

The Government of the State of Osun will continue to make the welfare of its CORP Members’ top priority.  This was stated today by the Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, at the swearing-in ceremony of 2013 Batch ‘C’ set of corps members deployed to the state.

The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Special Needs, who also doubles as the Chairman, NYSC Governing Council in the state, Hon. Stephen Kola-Balogun promised to make the corps members’ stay in the state an enjoyable one.
He enjoined the corps members to join hands with the State Government and participate actively in programmes such as healthcare delivery, enlightenment on MDGs, adult literacy among many others.

Earlier in his address at the event, the Chairman of the NYSC Governing Council in the State, Hon. Stephen Kola-Balogun represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade observed that the orientation programme is to instill perseverance, discipline, endurance and peaceful co-existence in the corps members.  He therefore charged them to be of good behaviour while in the state.

OSUN NEWS PORTAL

The entire body of lawmakers at local governments in the State of Osun under the umbrella of Forum 332 have endorsed the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for 2014 governorship.
In his speech, the Forum 332 Coordinator, Mr. Yinka Olayiwola, said their decision was informed by the performance of the governor virtually in all spheres of the state’s development.
The Forum, which encompasses all 332 wards in the whole state, said the state has never experienced exemplary political and economic reforms and transformations until the advent of the Governor Aregbesola administration. According to the forum spokesman, the focus of the administration hinges on road network, rural integration and massive infrastructure development which have made lives better at the grassroots.
“The conscious objective of this administration is urban and rural integration development as witnessed through the powerful road networks across all the local government in the State of Osun. This has made our lives at the grassroots better than ever before and the local government turned around by the governor is a milestone. The entire 332 councillorship candidates under the Forum 332 hereby support and endorse the second term of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the Governor of the State,” Olayiwola said.
He promised that the Forum 332 is at all times ready to support and transform the vision of Ogbeni’s administration into reality. The group then presented three Toyota Sienna vehicles to the campaign structure as a demonstration of their commitment to the governor’s second term in office.
In his response, Aregbesola commended the Forum for its continued support and belief in his government. He said within three years, his administration has enthroned peace and security which in turn has engendered development.
“We have spread the tentacle of development to all nooks and crannies with our programmes such as youth empowerment, school feeding scheme, welfare for the highly vulnerable old people, road construction and provision of other social amenities. As elections draw nearer, I want all of you to go back to your constituencies and mobilise for support,” Aregbesola said.
He warned people in the state not to sell their voter’s card, which they will use to exercise their civic rights, urging them to protect their votes as well.
The APC Chairman in the state, Elder Lowo Adebiyi, said the governor’s good performance informed his endorsement for second term. He advised the Forum to also perform their responsibilities in their own sphere of influence as the governor is doing in the state.
Adebiyi warned that APC is not a party known for violence and thuggery, assuring that the party has come to salvage what was an already bad situation before the Governor came in.

Photos from the Presentation of Support Vehicles and the Endorsement of Governor Aregbesola for a Second by the ‘Councillorship’ Forum 332 at Freedom Park, Osogbo the State of Osun, on Tuesday 05-11-2013

From right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his
Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chairman, All Progressive Congress
(APC) Osun chapter, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi; Secretary Osun APC, Prince
Gboyega Famodun and others, during the Presentation of Support
vehicles and Endorsement of Governor Aregbesola for Second term running by the Councillorship Forum 332 at Freedom Park, Osogbo the
State of Osun, on Tuesday 05-11-2013

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th left); his Deputy,
Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (3rd left); Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (2nd right); Chairman, All Progressive
Congress (APC) Osun chapter, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi (2nd left);
Secretary Osun APC, Prince Gboyega Famodun (left); State Chairman,
Councillorship Forum, Mr Yinka Olayiwola (right) and others, during the Presentation of Support vehicles and Endorsement of Governor Aregbesola for Second term running by the Councillorship Forum 332 at
Freedom Park, Osogbo the State of Osun, on Tuesday 05-11-2013

From right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chairman, All Progressive Congress
(APC) Osun chapter, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi and Secretary Osun APC,
Prince Gboyega Famodun, during the Presentation of Support vehicles
and Endorsement of Governor Aregbesola for Second term running by the
Councillorship Forum 332 at Freedom Park, Osogbo the State of Osun, on Tuesday 05-11-2013

From right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC) Osun chapter, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi and Secretary Osun APC, Prince Gboyega Famodun, during the Presentation of Support vehicles and Endorsement of Governor Aregbesola for Second term running by the
Councillorship Forum 332 at Freedom Park, Osogbo the State of Osun, on Tuesday 05-11-2013

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) acknowledging
cheers from the State of Osun Councillorship Forum 332, during their
Presentation of Support vehicles and Endorsement of Governor Aregbesola for Second term running by the Forum at Freedom Park, Osogbo the State of Osun, on Tuesday 05-11-2013

How time flies! It’s just like yesterday that the ebullient governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola was sworn in as the duly-elected governor of the state in the 2007 governorship election having eventually won the protracted battle to reclaim his stolen mandate at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan late 2010.
Come November 26 it will be three years exactly that Ogbeni Aregbesola assumed responsibility as the governor of his state. Three years on the good people of Osun state have had a taste of good governance in unprecedented term. Virtually all sectors in the life of that state have witnessed transformation such that today the people are happy that they did not waste their mandate by voting Engineer Aregbesola as their governor in the last gubernatorial election. Their expectations are being met as dividends of democracy are being delivered on their doorsteps like never before.
No doubt the state of Osun has undergone a fruitful democratic sojourn in the last three years under the able leadership of Ogbeni Aregbesola. In the past three years since the responsibility of steering the ship of his state fell on him it has been a different ball game entirely as governance has moved from the pedestrian, zero result level – as obtained during the lacklustre Oyinlola era – to an unusual, creative and focused level with its accompanying profitable results for the good people of Osun. We are of the belief that any sane mind cannot but agree that correct assertions are being made here.
As we are about entering election year this paper sees it as a matter of duty to start reminding our people about their responsibilities. And their responsibilities include registering to vote, voting right and monitoring their vote. They did it in 2007 and today having got value for their vote under Ogbeni Aregbesola’s administration the onus is on them to ensure that the status quo remain. And the status quo can only remain by their support i.e they should continue to give their total support to Ogbeni Aregbesola. They have been supporting the government no doubt. The coming election will however offer them better opportunity to express their support in practical terms. That is when the governor himself will be able to know that the people really appreciate the fact that he has been working for them.
Practically the people of Osun can only express their support for Ogbeni Governor by returning him with their vote. By doing this they must have voted right. And to vote right means to continue to enjoy dividends of democracy (at least) for another four year term. It’s important this is done so as to consolidate their gains. Of course no one will like to eat his food with bitter or saltless soup. To do that will be totally unpalatable. Having tasted a working government it won’t augur well for the state to allow mediocre politicians of yesterday with blurred vision to come back on stage. In fact, that will not only be counter-productive, it will basically be disastrous for the state and its people as those who had nothing positive to showcase for the luxury of power they enjoyed for almost eight years cannot come now to sweet-tongue us about having any good plans for the state. Ask them; if truly they had good plans, why didn’t they execute it while in power? This is an obvious case.
Thus as it is obvious that these plotting-to-come-back politicians have nothing to offer so is it also obvious that the future of Osun is assured with Ogbeni Aregbesola. As a leader he has been tested and he has passed. He is therefore a tested and trusted candidate. He has not let the people down and for this he deserves to be re-elected. For the good work to continue in the state of Osun the power is in the hands of the people and we are very much optimistic that they will not misuse their voting power.
OSUN DEFENDER

The Osun State deputy governor who also doubles as the Commissioner for Education in ‘The State of Osun’ spoke to some journalists on the rationale behind the reforms in the state.

What is it about the reforms in the education sector in Osun State?
WE  have through the O’meal programme addressed absenteeism and stunted growth noticed in the children of Osun State.
Daily, it costs about N14.9 million to feed the children . We however  do not mind as we are sowing into the future of these children. The O’meal programme has also impacted positively on our economy  as all we use are purchased within the state . We empowered people to go into farming to  produce most of these things. We spent N3.6 million naira last session . We trained women as food vendors to ensure  they ensure the height of cleanliness to avoid food poisoning. They are also allowed  to feed  their own families from  the prepared food so as to ensure quality . We also give them transport allowance. They serve as local caterers during weekends to those with socials events. We gave them interest free loans to purchase  cooking utensils and rent shops where the O’meal vendors banner are displayed. They are quite happy with it. This food is of the quality that a rich man will give his children, so they are doing well.
We have also provided free school uniforms. Most of them, came to school with tattered clothes,   Buba and sooro but the Governor decided  to change all that.
Since Adire is the major cultural clothing used by  the Yoruba, and here in the State of Osun, we are known to be the best producers of Adire. We do  it to promote our culture and ensure the kids are properly kitted to school.
Having addressed the infrastructural decadence with the provision of state  of the art schools, we  provided library and sporting facilities  for that age group , food to make them mentality fit, and also good school uniforms, we know that for our elementary, there will be no problem.
Some of the uniforms are however fading, so how do you plan to replace them? Also on the controversy that broke up with the reclassification , have you  resolved or  you are still dialoguing?
We are dialoguing, and we have been telling our people that the reform is to ensure we have a positive impact on the educational system I am happy that our people have seen the positive impact of some of the things we are doing. They know and love the programme of this government but its natural for people to resist change, especially for things that they have not seen been done before, or promises that they are used to not being kept over the years. Its natural for them to react  the way they reacted, so we have been dialoguing with them. From the antecedent of this government since it came on board, you will realise that we don’t make fake promises.
As regards the fading uniforms you observed , we have also done so and  we are changing the ones for the middle school which has faded. The first set was given out free but subsequently, we have arranged for our youths, about 10,000 from all the local governments to engage in the production of these  uniforms through the Omoluabi garment factory that we have , through a PPP arrangement set up in Abere. The arrangement is to train youths, some, who had been tailors, do not need training, but others will be trained by the private firm we are partnering with to sew the uniforms. We have also regulated the prices of the three basis uniforms, they are then sold in Red Shops created all over the state. These shops are owned by women selling them. The women have been encouraged  to form cooperatives, they collect the uniforms without paying, sell and then make returns since they may not be able to afford making deposits. The Red Shops are in the local markets.
The uniforms are fading because we gave them just one set, and then advised them to buy, but you know parents, will try to play smart, waiting for the end of the year before they purchase. But  some, whose parent have purchased a second set now have new uniforms. However because of those selling and adultrating our uniforms, what we have change it to, its impossible to adulterate it.
Without the reclassification, couldn’t your reforms still have been achieved? Could you not have retained  the primary–secondary structure and then renovate, build and provide the meals with the old structure. Also the issue of population, some of the classes have as many as 50-60,  is that not too large?
In line with the best global practises and especially from where we copied it, Nigeria was using the British system when I was in school, my children went through the American system introduced in 1982, the way it is done, which I pray we will attain here, is to put children of the same age bracket in the same classes. It has a big advantage and psychologists will say it does not augur well to group kids of different age groups together. That is why we have reclassification.
We have put kids of the same age bracket like in the elementary kids school, we have children between ages 6-9. They can relate effectively and work well together. Another reason is that in the US, where we copied it, they run what we run now and it has positively inspected on the educational programme in that country which we also want to achieve. Another thing is the mushrooming of schools which makes the very scarce resources of the state to be overstretched which has not helped the state.
For instance in the elementary schools before we came on board, each school was being given a paltry sum of  N200 before we came on the board. This government  reviewed it to N400 per child. There were 1,238 elementary and 587 secondary schools. We had more schools than many states that are bigger than us. Some of the schools had maybe 28 kids and some, 400 kids some had 28 kids and 18 teachers while others had 900  students and six teachers. There was that disparity and inconsistency in policy. The reclassification is to have graded schools.
Its also to afford children of poor people access qualitative education and state of art educational materials  which hither to they may not be influential enough to access. The schools are distributed  all over the local governments in the state. N25m has so far seen expended on the grants by the current administration as school grant per annum. Basic things are now available in the schools.
That why for the high schools, we have deployed Opon imo. For this year in the high schools, there are 44,560 kids registering for the SSCE. We have 100,038 students in all our high schools and they will all get Opon imo as it is cheaper than buying books which they may not be able to afford. We are also going to give the about 14,000 teachers I have. When we came, we had barely 5,000 teachers. These are all part of the reforms. 14,890 teachers have seen recruited since we came on board.
Another problem was that PTAs were running the administration of schools before we came on board. They had employed some teachers too but we took over all PTA teachers. We absorbed them and presently, we are recruiting teachers. There has been a major improvement. The population issue is because we are still constructing the schools, as the schools get completed, we will keep reducing the number in a class. If you had gone to the rural areas you would have seen classes having as much as 120 students with some sitting on the bare floor. We have been buying and still buying furniture.
Early childhood learning?
We as a government encourage the private schools to run the early childhood education. For us, we believe children should be nurtured by their parents until they are ready to commence elementary school. For parents who can afford or require it, we encourage them to go to the private schools, but we are not encouraging nursery or kindergarten education.
THE NATION