The immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State, Comrade Niyi Akano has advised Governor Seyi Makinde to reintroduce the education levy which he cancelled through a proclamation in his inaugural speech on May 29, 2019 if the people of the State so desire.
Comrade Akano who was Aanuoluwapo Omorinde’s Guest on IMPACT POINT, a weekly News and Current Affairs programme on IBR 92.5fm Ibadan, made this submission in response to the agitation of some callers on the programme who suggested that the government of the day led by Governor Seyi Makinde should rescind it’s decision on the cancellation of levy in public primary and secondary schools across the State.
Speaking further, Akano said Parents in the State should be ready to make some sacrifices over their wards. He condemned the attitude of some parents who rely on the government to pick up all their educational obligations to their children stressing that the government cannot do everything.
According to the former NUT Boss, “at a time, the immediate past administration was paying WAEC fees of Students in Secondary Schools across but at a time, it complained of paucity of funds and so, it stopped it. If the people want Seyi Makinde to abolish or modify this policy, he should”.
Earlier on the programme, some Callers had suggested that the present economic reality may make it difficult for Governor Seyi Makinde to sustain his free education policy hence, a token should be collected from pupils and Students who attend public schools in the State. Though, there is disparity in the figure suggested, majority of them believe the government should cause these Students to pay some money. While some suggested five hundred naira per term, others canvassed a thousand naira.
On the rumour that some Schools were given half of their grant by the government, he denied knowledge of this development but admitted that public schools across the State were not given as much as they earned in first term in grant for the second term.
He expressed satisfaction with the on-going Teacher recruitment exercise being handled by the State Teaching Service Commission. “We are very pleased with the exercise. With this, competent hands will be hired and this is good for the education sector in Oyo State”.
“With the efforts and investment of the government in education, I have have no doubt that Oyo will perform excellently well in this year’s WAEC” he submitted.
