Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Olayiwola, has said that the positive turnaround witnessed in the education sector in the state is as a result of Governor Seyi Makinde’s visionary and insightful leadership.
He noted that the administration has implemented many policies towards transforming the sector, which prior to Governor Makinde’s assumption of office in 2019, had become deplorable, with education quality at its lowest ebb.
Olayiwola, who spoke at the Omituntun 2.0 Inter-Ministerial Briefing, said the government’s policies on
budgetary allocation, reducing the gap in education infrastructure, reducing the number of out-of-school children and increasing the workforce in the education sector, among others, have had a positive impact on the quality of education in the state.
He stated that the direct outcomes of the policy actions included, among other things, the growing improvement in the quality and standard of education, reduction in education infrastructure deficit, increased education enrolment and an overall progress in the all-important sector.
The commissioner maintained that as a result of the efforts of the government, which has demonstrated the political will to improve education, the sector has attracted interventions from development partners and old students’ associations, which are helping greatly in meeting education needs across the state.
Speaking on efforts to further standardise the education sector, Olayiwola said the state would no longer take the issue of hooliganism lightly across its public schools, saying that the state was collaborating with the police to ensure that peace and order were maintained across schools.
He warned parents and wards to be wary of all activities that could reduce the quality of the education sector, noting that the state would now fully enforce the laws against use of mobile phones by public school students and also attack examination malpractices squarely.
According to him, Makinde’s actions have also had far-reaching effects on the education family, which is the largest ministry in the state, as it has 12 full departments headed by level 17 officers as directors, 22 permanent secretaries, comprising 10 tutors-general manning the 10 educational zones and 10 inspectors-general manning the 10 educational zones, among others.
He added that the ministry also has seven agencies including SUBEB and TESCOM; 10 tertiary institutions, including the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Senator Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, three polytechnics in Ibadan, Eruwa and Saki, a School of Agriculture in Igbo-Ora and a School of Health Technology.
