Kehinde Oluwatayo

The Ondo State Government has called on all stakeholders, especially Old Students’ Association, Parents/Teachers’ Association, notable groups and individuals to join hands with government in developing the education sector in the state.

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Pastor Olufemi Agagu, made the call while monitoring school resumption for the third term academic session in Akure and environs.

He noted that the task of developing the education sector was enormous, stressing that government alone cannot adequately fund it.

The Commissioner, who used the opportunity to inspect facilities in the schools, called for synergy among stakeholders in providing the required infrastructural facilities for schools and other necessities for the smooth running of the education sector.

He acknowledged the contributions of Parents/Teachers’ Association and Old Students’ Association to the development of infrastructure in some schools, and encouraged the bodies to continue giving back to their alma mater.

While acknowledging that the state government has done a lot in area of infrastructural development in primary schools, Agagu expressed hope that Secondary Schools in the state would receive attention subsequently.

The commissioner, who expressed satisfaction with the turnout of teachers and other staff, however frowned at the number of students in schools on the first day of resumption especially in the rural areas, and called on teachers to devise ways of bringing them back to class as soon as possible.

He warned against truancy, absenteeism and other unwholesome practices in schools and encouraged parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children and wards, especially the company they keep.

Agagu said the state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, frowns seriously at students roaming around school premises, loitering around pool betting kiosks, use of handsets while in school, hooliganism, and other unwholesome acts, warning them to desist from anything capable of affecting their future negatively.

He assured that the State Government would continue to invest in the education sector to ensure that every child of school age in the state has unrestricted access to quality education where ever they live.