Osun Education Summit Holds Aug 22

By Adenitan Akinola

Osun State Government has described the existing mega schools buildings in the state as mere display of architectural wizardry which has not added value to the quality of the Teaching-Learning process.

The state Commissioner for Education, Mr Dipo Eluwole expressed this concern at a press conference to announce the State Education Summit to address challenges confronting the state’s education sector.

Mr Eluwole noted that the gigantic classrooms built by one of the  previous administrations in the state did not address the needs of the students, neither do the buildings make school attractive to students despite their architectural beauty.

The Commissioner argued that Osun state education sectorial problem was hydra-headed and required urgent overhaul, otherwise the damage could become irredeemable.

He highlighted some of the challenges confronting education sector in the state to include shortage of teachers and lectures, collapse of Infrastructure, non-functional school inspectorate services mandate of the state ministry of education, parents’ reckless abandonment of their roles as sponsors of their children’s education among others.

Mr Eluwole said, “Available records have it that the state is rated as being the most poorly rated in public examination performance index which puts Osun State among the last three in the nation for some time now. The state is also having the largest out-of-school children in the South West Nigeria and probably the least in adequate teacher-pupil-ratio. These are descriptions that were alien to the State education sector in the past, because the founding fathers bequeathed a befitting education legacy to the State.”

Giving insights into the state 2023 education summit billed to take place between August 22 and 24, Eluwole said the summit would address “the rebirth of learner-centered policies that will make schools and its environment child-friendly, conducive, safe and motivating not just an ostentatious display of architectural wizardry.”

He said there would be critical look into the standard required for recruitment of teachers, lecturers and education officers without interference from the political class among other solution-driven areas.

In a remarks, the chairman of the education summit, Prof. Oyesoji Aremu, said, “The opening ceremony will hold at UNIOSUN Auditorium of and will be declared opened by the  Governor.

Professor Aremu gave assurance of the government’s determination to implement the recommendations of the summit, a development which he said influenced his accepting to serve on the summit committee.