Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, yesterday allayed the fears of public secondary school teachers over the proposed plan by the state government seeking public participation in the schools’ management and funding.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Ibadan, the governor said the teachers should not be afraid if they are academically sound.
He said under new management, the affected schools would be run effectively while teachers would have access to more training.
The governor while defending the proposed public participation in schools, disclosed that the 631 public secondary schools in the state were eyesore as many of them lacked the necessary infrastructure.
He said government would have made policy statement on the matter but that in the spirit of transparency, rule of law and participatory governance, “we feel that we should consult, dialogue on how best the school can be adequately funded.
“It will involve all the stakeholders. Government cannot abdicate its responsibility of ensuring quality education and religious diversity. Never, we cannot negotiate the free education policy of the government.”
The governor said some have alleged that government want to sell the schools to some wealthy Nigerians, saying “where did we write that we want to sell schools? I have not collected money from either Islamic or Christian organisations.
“Government will not abandon its responsibility of improving the quality of education, ensuring free education, maintaining peace and security of lives and property,” he said.
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