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The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has shed light on the persistent challenges surrounding school infrastructure in the state, despite the availability of intervention funds such as the Ogun State Education Intervention Fund. Speaking during the annual Teachers’ Day celebration at the Cultural Centre in Kuto, Abeokuta, Abiodun emphasized the need to identify the worst-performing schools to prevent ongoing public embarrassment.
Abiodun announced the approval for the construction of 12 blocks of 900 smart classrooms across four schools in each zone of the state, aiming to enhance the educational environment. The schools benefiting from this initiative include Abeokuta Grammar School in Idi-Aba, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Remo Secondary School in Sagamu, and Yewa College in Ilaro.
In his address, the governor highlighted several initiatives aimed at improving educational standards, including the Ogun Digitalised Multimedia Lesson Plan. This program will equip teachers with essential resources to deliver centralized and digitized lesson plans effectively. Additionally, the establishment of the Central Education Management Information System for data collection, analysis, and presentation was mentioned as part of the state’s educational achievements.
Abiodun also discussed the challenges of accessing the 2020 Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds, noting that when he took office, the state had not utilized funds from 2014 to 2017. He explained, “Shortly after I assumed office, we paid the counterpart funding for those four years, and we accessed the funding. The current funding we are implementing is for 2018 and 2019.”
The governor observed that many contracts were abandoned due to inflation and unrealistic pricing. He expressed concern that the schools being constructed were not the ones in the most desperate need of intervention. Consequently, he formed a task force led by the Head of Service to identify the most severely affected schools in the state.
“I am pleased to announce that the exercise has now been completed,” Abiodun said, noting that the UBEC Chairman has been informed of the need to adapt the work plan to better suit the unique conditions in Ogun State. The new work plan has been approved, focusing on completing abandoned projects and prioritizing the worst-performing schools.
In recognition of Teachers’ Day, the governor declared Monday, October 6, 2024, a work-free day for educators to celebrate their contributions. He also announced the absorption of an additional 1,000 teachers into the State Teaching Service Commission, bringing the total number of new teachers to 5,000 since his administration began.
Furthermore, Abiodun approved the renovation of all special schools and an increase in the feeding allowance for pupils in these institutions to foster a sense of belonging. In a commitment to supporting teachers, the governor announced that transport allowances would be provided to all public school teachers, replacing the work-free days currently enjoyed by other state government workers.
In closing, Abiodun commended teachers for their vital role in shaping future generations and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to enhancing the education sector in Ogun State.
