From Jimoh Ahmed, Owo

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The Education Endowment Fund established by the Ondo State Government has been described as the surest way to save public institutions from total collapse.

This was the position of stakeholders from the Akoko area of the state in separate interviews with The Hope.

They posited that it is a glaring fact that the schools face very serious challenges and threats from private institutions, which run across primary to tertiary stages.

A retired school principal from Isua Akoko in Akoko Southeast Local Government, Mr Jide Afolabi, who lauded the initiative, said it bolstered the fact that government alone cannot fund education as it requires huge investment to rebuild the nearly collapsed sector.

Afolabi believed that leaving everything to the government to shoulder was like killing Carmel with a heavy load.

A woman community leader from Arigidi Akoko, Chief (Mrs) Ajayi Ogidiolu, urged communities, religious organisations, and well-to-do citizens to assist the sector.

According to her, this is the only way the education sector can be salvaged from its present predicament.

On his own, the chairman of the Parent/Teachers Association of Adougbo Grammar School, Afin Akoko, Shedu Ikumuyite, lauded the establishment of the fund, saying it is the antidote to the challenges being faced by education in the sunshine state.

He, however, commended Governor Akeredolu for being prudent in managing the state’s resources; a situation which he said has helped him achieve commendable exploits in the education sector.

Ikumyite has kudos to old students and the PTA for coming out to assist schools in the state.

They unanimously called on the incoming administration in the country to prevent constant strikes in Nigerian universities.

Similarly, they urged the Ondo State government to contribute immensely to the endorsement fund.

Taxable  adults in Ondo State are to make annual voluntary donation of N1000 as education levy  to provide a pool of resources independent of government subventions to rejuvenate and upgrade education in the state.