The Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, has refuted a statement credited to the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr Victor Olabimtan, which purportedly stated that the teachers in the state must enroll their children in public schools.
Olabimtan, in a media report, condemned the attitude of some teachers taking their biological children to private schools and said that it had become an offence for public school teachers to take their wards to private schools.
He said, “The teachers will, henceforth, be held responsible for any drop in primary schools’ enrolment.”
However, the governor, in a statement issued, Sunday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Richard Olatunde, said there was no such policy that teachers must enroll their wards in public schools.
The statement added that there was no law in the state barring teachers from enrolling their children in private schools or any school of their choice.
The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a news story making the round particularly on the social media with the above headline. It is imperative to enlighten our people and shed light on the statement credited to the Chairman of SUBEB, Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan.
“Undoubtedly, the Ondo State Government under Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has made huge investment in the education sector in the state, especially in primary and secondary schools. Tertiary institutions not excluded. The rot, which pervaded public schools in the state before Akeredolu’s administration assumed office is fast disappearing. This has also led to an increase in student enrollment in most of the schools.
“Under the Akeredolu administration, over 800 public primary schools have been reconstructed and renovated with perimeter fence, the Information and Communications Technology centre and playgroup equipment. The students now enjoy modern desks and chairs procured by the Akeredolu administration. Besides, Governor Akeredolu recently recruited over 1000 teachers in the public primary schools.
“It is based on this background that teachers in the public schools were urged on moral ground to enroll their wards in public schools for confidence building. This will subsequently increase enrollment and further encourage the government to embark on more upgrades to public schools.
“Succinctly, there is no policy or law in Ondo State that forbids anyone in the service of the government, including teachers, from enrolling their wards in any school. However, there is always a place for moral burden. It is, therefore, not an offence for teachers to enroll their wards in any school of their choice. But, it will be morally wrong for teachers, who are proud of their works and teachings to put their wards in a private school.”
The statement further stated that Akeredolu would continue to prioritise education and develop it for the overall interest of the people of the state.