The Oyo State government has initiated a new education policy that allows School Governing Board (SGB) to manage public schools with government supervision.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi launched the new policy at a town hall meeting at the University of Ibadan (UI).
Ajimobi said the government will not relent in its efforts to reposition the education sector, adding that the state does not deserve to be behind.
He said there was need to address pupils’ poor performance in external examination through strong education reform.
“The SGB model of school management was the recommendation of the Education Reform Committee headed by the Vice-Chancellor of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Prof Adeniyi Gbadegesin.
“Pupils’ poor performance necessitated the introduction of ‘No Automatic Promotion’ policy in public schools.
“Some people razed down school buildings in protest against our policy.
“Let me stress it here that government will not go back on this policy.
“I also want to assure you that the six schools shut down because of the protest will not be re-opened unless the parents are ready to rebuild the buildings,” Ajimobi said.
Commissioner for Education, Prof Adeniyi Olowofela said that the SGB model was aimed at repositioning public schools.
He said the model has two categories and would be responsible for the management of the schools, improve quality of school programmes and efficiency of teachers, thereby raising the pupils’ achievement level.
The State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Samuel Akano, praised the government for the policy, adding that the meeting and the new policy has vindicated the government.