The Oyo State government has declared its determination to close down substandard primary schools within the state.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Professor Soliu Abdulwaheed Adelabu, during a meeting with key stakeholders in basic education.
He emphasized that so-called “mushroom” schools would not be permitted to operate in Oyo.
The Commissioner revealed that the Ministry of Education and the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board would collaborate closely with relevant stakeholders to crackdown on operators of these substandard primary schools.
He directed Education Secretaries and Heads of Sections in all 33 local government areas of the state to be prepared for the impending actions, as this meeting was part of the initial steps towards the clampdown.
Expressing his disappointment with the findings from a recent inspection, Adelabu outlined measures to prevent basic errors in the basic education sub-sector.
He urged relevant stakeholders to improve their supervision of schools under their jurisdiction.
Adelabu stressed the importance of enhancing the quality of public schools, as it would significantly impact the lives and future of the students.
He emphasized the commitment to providing better educational opportunities for the children of Oyo State.
Additionally, the Commissioner highlighted the Oyo State government’s efforts to address infrastructural challenges in primary schools.
He noted that Governor Seyi Makinde had given the Ministry a mandate to identify schools in urgent need of infrastructural improvements.
“The Oyo State government is taking all necessary steps to ensure that every school-age child has access to education. However, we must not compromise on our dedication to providing quality and standard education in the state,” Adelabu affirmed.
