The Labour union Movement in Oyo State and concerned stakeholders in the education sector have been called upon to see the recent education policy initiative that called for private intervention in development of public schools as the major source of funding from the federal purse has been dwindling overtime.
The Caretaker Chairman, Iseyin local Government, Alh saheed Adejare Alaran said this at his office while answering questions from reporters on the proposed public-private partnership on education in Oyo State as, according to him, education is so vital and with the current financial situation in the country, should not be left to the government alone.
Alh. Alaran who called on the leadership of Nigerian Labour Congress {N.L.C} to see reasons in having a roundtable approach to the current feud between workers and government to foster solutions to the problem of salary and other allowances owed workers by government, stressing that no amount of bickering could bring solution unless the two parties meet to draw up leeways to facilitate ways forward adding that the only way to help restore education glory in the State is for private bodies, alumni, corporate organizations among others to intervene.
“The education sector in our State has received so much attention that one would not have envisaged the present conditions of our schools and their infrastuctures but the cause is in the number of schools in the State, Iseyin here alone has about two hundred primary schools that are also jostling for attention like the secondary schools that are in the middle of discourse everywhere.
“It is not possible for government to say it would abdicate its responsibility in this area despite the humongous requisites for maintaining them which call for understanding between government and other stakeholders so as to bring about leeways out of the present situation, I promise you, no amount of bickering will give us solution to the problem at hand unless the labour agrees to truce terms and a middle channel is forged so our children can go back to school.”he said
On the proposed public-private-partnership to develop some public secondary schools in the State, Alhaji Alaran said the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi had at various fora put the record straight that the administration had no intention of selling public schools under any guise but to call for the private bodies and individuals to intervene.
Using a community school in his domain, Iseyin District Grammar School, Iseyin as example of how such intervention had worked, Hon. Alaran said the school which has about twenty-three blocks of classrooms, a huge hall, air-conditioned computer centre among others enjoyed a total structural revamping as a result of the intervention of the school’s alumni and the State government.
He said the school enjoyed this opportunity because the old students were called upon and they heeded the call which led to the total facelift of their alma matter, making it their pride and the envy of others.
“The example of I.D.G.S in Iseyin can be used to explain the point of view of government on the proposed policy, all the twenty-three structures there, except one which also has gotten somebody to help in its renovation have received quality facelift and some alumni have even come to build and equip the ICT center with full air-condition system, we have to take a cursory look at this and see ways to replicate same in other schools.
The Chairman, Iseyin Development Union (I.D.U), Iseyin Chapter, Pa Gbadebo Ogundiran reiterated the stand of the council Chairman, advising the government to as a matter urgency, find a solution to the industrial crisis in the State so as not to jeopardise the future of children in public schools who, according to him are the future of Nigeria.
Pa Ogundiran advised that government should work more on sensitizing the public on the proposed intervention as the present impasse was caused by infiltration of the oublic space with rumor which has caused disaffection in the State and allowed politics to enter into an important aspect of public development as education.
The Vice-President, Federation of Iseyin Local Government Students (FILGS), Comrade……. appealed to the labour movement to dialogue with government on the education policy and allow their members go back to work, adding that the students in public secondary schools have missed many activities like examinations which might be difficult to regain.
He said since the Governor has said at a radio interview program that he monitored that his administration was not selling public schools but working on the policy to facilitate the growth of education and in consequence help the students achieve qualitative education, the people should see reason with him and allow peace to reign.
