By Saheed Ibrahim,
Emmanuel Oluwadola
& Mercy Ifabumuyi

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All is now set for the reintroduction of free school shuttle buses by the Ondo State Government to ease transportation problem of students both in public and private schools as they resume new academic session today.

 The step is part of the palliatives package of the government to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on the parents.

The Hope investigation revealed that the free shuttle buses have been fully repaired and distributed to the 18 local government areas of the state.

The buses will be at strategic locations from 6.45am, according to a credible source. They will convey the students to and from the schools.

Speaking on the reintroduction of the free buses, Special Adviser to the State Governor on Transport, Mr Tobi Ogunleye said the buses are already in good shape to take off this morning.

He said other local governments that were not enjoying the free shuttle buses like Ifedore, Ose and Akoko South West in the past will be taken care of.

“You can see from the look of things, the buses are prepared for the day. So we are prepared.

“We are not doing this for the first time. We are not just introducing it, we are coming back. Except for some local governments that have not tasted it before, like Igbara Oke, Oka-Akoko, Ose and others where they will be using it for the first time. Our men are always out around 5 to 5:30 a.m. and then they resume late after the closing of the schools.

“Also, we are not limiting ourselves to these free shuttle buses alone, we are introducing free shuttle boats for the people in the riverine areas.

“We have acquired life jackets for the students and we are equally distributing the life jackets for boat owners at the riverine. Again, we are distributing free paddles where there is an issue on the high sea, let’s say if their engines fail, they will be able to switch to manual paddling.

On the hardship parents are facing in order to keep their wards in school, some of the parents who spoke with The Hope told the State Government to make admission into public schools easy for them, bearing in mind the current economic hardship in the country.

 Some alleged that some public schools’ officials are making things unbearable for poor parents by charging them to pay huge amount before admitting their wards into school.

The Hope team visited some schools in the state to verify schools’ demands from new and returning students.

At Oyemekun Grammar School, Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School, St Louis Girls Grammar School, CAC Grammar School and others, some new students were seen buying school materials, outside the schools’ gates.

While schools like CAC Grammar School have the list of books pasted for new students to bring, others were yet to paste their lists.

At Adegbola Memorial Grammar School, Akure, students are to pay N1,400 for ‘Digital’, N3,000 for PTA and N6,450 for ‘miscellaneous’. The fees are to be paid to designated bank accounts, as pasted in the school.

At Ijapo High School, new students are to pay N6,950 as ‘Miscellaneous’, N1,400 for capturing, N1,000 for ‘PTA’ and N2,000 for PTA’ Special Contribution’ to designated bank accounts.

At Fiwasaye Grammar School, new students are required to purchase  complete school uniform from a designated place very close to the school for the sum of N19,000 aside  other expenses.

The students are required to bring all the listed textbooks before they are cleared for admission.

At St. Joseph’s Catholic Grammar School, Idanre, new students are mandated to buy Mathematics and English textbooks within the school.

Meanwhile, in a September 11, 2023 circular titled, “Approved collectibles for public primary and secondary schools in Ondo State: 2023/2024 academic session”, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Education, Mrs Folasade Adegoke, the Ministry warned that schools are not permitted to collect money for uniforms and text books.

The circular reads: “The Ministry wishes to reiterate that School Principals, Headteachers, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Old Students Association or School Based Management Committee (SBMC) are NOT PERMITTED to collect money for school uniform(s)}and textbooks.

“It is therefore advised that samples of uniform materials and a list of recommended textbooks should be given to parents/guardians for personal purchase. Schools with customised uniform materials are not excluded from this directive.

“On no account should any school charge any extra levy or demand for any supporting materials to complement the ones indicated in this Circular, and proper record of receipts for Collectibles must be kept for on-the-spot auditing by Monitoring Officers.

“All relevant stakeholders are enjoined to ensure strict compliance with the contents of this Circular in schools within their domain.”

New students are to take one hoe, cutlass, broom, file jacket, locker and a chair (where not available in the school) to the schools they are admitted to.

The total amount payable by a new student is N9,150 and N8,650 for schools with school buses and without, respectively, while primary school students are to pay a total of N3,000.