…stakeholders seek community support to bridge funding, infrastructure gaps
The principals of the 310 public secondary schools in Ondo State are to begin immediate community engagement towards the establishment of functional School Governing Boards (SGBs) in their respective schools.
The resolution was reached at a one-day stakeholders’ workshop on “Multi-Stakeholders Approach Towards Improved Secondary Education in Ondo State”, held on Monday in Akure.
The workshop was organised by the Ondo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in collaboration with COPE Africa, GBEAS and Eaglesworth Consultancy Services.
The initiative is aimed at mobilising resources from individuals, communities and other stakeholders to support the development of public secondary schools and address their funding and infrastructural challenges.
Speaking at the workshop, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Amos Ajibefun, said the initiative was consistent with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to qualitative and quantitative education.
Ajibefun said the government remained committed to its responsibilities but stressed that every child must remain at the centre of all interventions.
He urged principals to embrace the initiative, citing Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School, Akure, as an example of what committed individuals and alumni could achieve through support for school development.
In his presentation, “Multi-Stakeholders Approach Towards the Growth and Development in Ondo State”, Prof. Adewole Adeyeye said government alone could no longer meet all the needs of schools.
Adeyeye said the existing reactionary approach to addressing educational challenges had not yielded the desired results, urging stakeholders to take more proactive steps.
He proposed that each school should have a five-member School Governing Board, with the principal serving as secretary.
According to him, the board would mobilise resources from well-meaning individuals and communities for school development.
He, however, said government could do more if it was held accountable and remained transparent.
The Project Lead Consultant, Prof. Daniel Adekeye, said the workshop was the first edition in the state and was designed to develop pragmatic approaches to improving secondary education.
He urged principals to make meaningful contributions to the process.
Adekeye, while presenting a paper on “School Governing Board for Resources and Infrastructure Mobilization”, said the model was similar to university advancement centres.
He explained that the SGBs would encourage healthy competition, operationalisation, accountability and needs assessment among schools.
He disclosed that a desk officer would be established in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to coordinate the initiative.
Also speaking, Venerable Fadoju Nelson said the state had good education policies but faced challenges with implementation.
He called on the commissioner to issue a white paper to ensure the sustainability of the policies, citing Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School as an example of the impact of philanthropic support.
The new President of ANCOPSS, Ondo State chapter, Mr Aminu, commended the initiative but stressed that its success would depend on implementation.
He lamented the condition of public schools and the welfare of principals compared with their counterparts in Northern Nigeria.
Aminu also expressed concern over alleged malpractices by some private schools registering underage students for WAEC and NECO examinations.
He called for the elevation of Level 16 principals to Level 17 and urged the consultants to visit schools to assess their dilapidated infrastructure.
The PTA Chairman, Mr Sola Adubi, also welcomed the initiative and appealed to the government to employ more teachers.
The Permanent Secretary, Dr Akindele Ige, urged principals to take ownership of the process by preparing school development plans and submitting them to their SGBs rather than waiting for the ministry to initiate action.
The Tutor General, Central Senatorial District, Dr Mrs Fadekemi Niran Jogbodo, also commended the initiative and charged principals to ensure its successful implementation.
The workshop ended with a resolution for immediate community engagement by principals to establish functional SGBs in their schools.