Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said Osun will have one of the best education systems in the country, when his administration completes its reforms in the sector.
The governor was responding to Bishop Leke Abegunrin’s comments on the decadence in public schools.
Aregbesola said the moral and infrastructural decadence in the sector were the result of neglect.
He said his administration’s reforms were the outcome of the education summit he organised three months after he assumed office, adding that the area generating misunderstanding is just an aspect of a comprehensive reform programme.
Aregbesola said: “What we met on ground was appalling and we were faced with the choice of leaving it as it was and enjoy favour from stakeholders or facing the demon and seeking the understanding of all stakeholders. We decided to take the bull by the horn and tackle the menace.
“I assure you that in 24 months, other states would be coming to learn how we transformed our education sector, particularly at the primary and post-primary levels.”
Seeking the understanding of stakeholders, the governor said the school feeding programme, tagged O’MEAL, has increased enrolment in elementary schools from 120,000 annually to about 500,000.
He said the award-winning Opon Imo (tablet of knowledge) has reduced the cost of providing textbooks for pupils.
Bishop Abegunrin urged stakeholders to shun religious and political sentiments and protect the future of children.
He condemned the indolence displayed by pupils, urging the administration to put mechanism in place to ensure continuity of its policies beyond its tenure.
THE NATION
