Ismaeel Uthman, Yusuf Oketola & Kazeem Badmus
EVERYWHERE on the planet earth, one thing defines the scope of things and how the world traverses through the earth which travels every 24 hours. That thing is called knowledge. It is the ability to know, think, decide, obtain information and act on it. It means every step aimed at liberating one’s mind, position such mind for greatness and generate ideas for development.
These assertions speak to one thing which is known as Education. The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary defines Education as the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university. It is a gradual and rapid process that permeates the lifespan of a person’s human existence.
The reason why Education is said to be the most critical sector of the society is its ability to shape the future of every society which rests on the pivot of the way the younger generations are trained and further emboldened to be partakers in the destiny of not just themselves but the ones after them.
Nelson Mandela said Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world. Mandela’s thoughts are premised on the fact that good and quality education is the only window to reinvigorate and build a total man that will grow to redevelop his society for a change that will transcend his first generation.
Also, the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the doyen of free education in Nigeria’s Southwest region is of the opinion that: “Any system of education which does not help a man to have a healthy and sound body and alert brain, and balanced and disciplined instinctive urges, is both misconceived and dangerous.”
All of the above assertions are pointers to something that; good education is embodied in vision; a mission to assess the state of things and project for the future. It is really not about creative and well-thought out policy, but a zeal and commitment to make it work. The drive of such great vision is clearly embedded in the structure of the programmes and how it is executed to the benefit of the public.
OSUN in the last three decades and two years of its existence has had its share of highs and lows in education, with successive administrations since creation in 1991 coming up with ideas aimed at appraising and raising the bar in terms of quality teaching and learning, provision of a conducive atmosphere, worthy innovations as well as improved motivation for both teachers and the students.
OSUN DEFENDER in this magazine provides an historical basis on the state of the Education Sector in Osun State, chronicling the worthy interventions of past administrators, with a view to repositioning the sector for better performance by the present handlers of the state, by harnessing the working template for greater results and all round good of the state.
Education from 1991–2010
Osun State was led by three civilians and a few military administrators from 27th August, 1991 to November 26, 2010. First among them was Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke (of blessed memory), who during his tenure made efforts to establish schools, particularly at the grassroots to ensure that the pupils and students; the perceived leaders of tomorrow, get the best of education. The government of Isiaka Adeleke could not go beyond its achievements as the military took over. The military administrators in their respective terms also emerged with considerable progress report in the education sector. This was the situation before Chief Adebisi Akande took over the leadership of the state in 1999.
Akande’s administration was largely controversial for its decisions, most importantly, the one to sanitise the teaching profession and by extension, the state civil service from non-professionals. The development led to the sack of numerous teachers and the upgrade of a few infrastructure in the education sector. Akande prioritized science education, built schools across the state. He was clearly bent on sanitising the public education system and reposition it but the programme was politicised by some state actors.
Taking over from Akande was Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola who was in office till the dawn of November 26, 2010. One of the many firsts which Oyinlola did was the reinstatement of the sacked teachers and by extension civil servants disengaged by the previous administration. Oyinlola also endeared himself to many in the education sector through the provision of school infrastructure (Oyin Ni oo classrooms), payment of WASSCE fees of students, promotion of teachers and engagement, kick-off of the school feeding programme for primary school children, among other initiatives.
The administration, however failed to upgrade school infrastructure, especially in its second term, provide basic amenities in schools as well as other instructional materials. However, key players note that the Oyinlola regime had some sterling achievements, especially in the engagement of teachers and continuous boosting of their morale with appropriate remuneration.
THE 2011 – 2018 Era
Next to take the mantle of leadership was Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who came to power on November 27, 2010. Aregbesola’s bold move to restructure public education in the state did not just bring a new look to the education sector but also heralded a new turn of event to the future generation. In his two-terms, Osun got her greatest medal, among its peers, in the education sector due to the extraordinary concentration on the education sector.
POLICY
Worried by the state of education in Osun at the inception of his administration in November 2010, Aregbesola convoked an Education Summit to review the situation in the state. The Prof. Wole Soyinka-chaired Education Summit in February 2011 formed a blueprint to create everlasting legacies in the education sector.
Noteworthy, education was the most critical sector that projected Aregbesola’s government and at the same time made it controversial because of the innovative ideas brought into revamping it with modern infrastructure. Some of the policies that reshaped the education sector are: Reclassification/Merger of School, introduction of same uniform, introduction of international award winning digital text books known as Opon Imo – Tablet of Knowledge, free school feeding programme called O MEAL, payment of external extermination fees, construction of modern schools and introduction of discipline into the schools.
INFRASTRUCTURE
The Rauf Aregbesola administration sought to put in place requisite infrastructure with construction of state-of-the-art 100 Elementary Schools, 50 Middle Schools and 20 High Schools. This according to the former governor was due to the torrid state of infrastructure in Osun schools; which called for the urgent action of the government to rescue students from the gory structures and save the lives of teachers, too.
Before the end of Aregbesola’s eight years in office, 11 high schools with 876 classrooms for high school students were built. Only the Iwo High School building was not functioning as of November 27, 2018. A total of 28 new story buildings of middle schools consisting of 764 classrooms, 21 quadrangle buildings of elementary schools consisting of 531 classrooms were also constructed. Also, 143 blocks of between two and 10 buildings consisting of 1,550 classrooms, mainly for rural settlements were built, while rehabilitation of 215 old school buildings to produce 1,213 classrooms across the state was also achieved. The administration also employed 3,230 teachers on merit in 2013 into public schools. This was followed by the introduction of Opon-Imo to secondary school students.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered authoritatively that the ‘Opon Imo’ saved parents in Osun the sum of N8.2 billion worth of textbooks. Remarkably, the tablet of knowledge was endorsed by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in February 2017, and recommended to other states for adoption in Nigeria. Opon Imo was also endorsed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Orgainisation (UNESCO). Over 50,000 students benefited from ‘Opon Imo’ in Osun since inception in 2013 to 2017. Less than N3 billion was spent on procurement, installation, distribution and maintenance of the tablet.
The elementary, middle and high schools built were comprehensively equipped with Science and vocational studies laboratories. They also had the best facilities for classroom studies, sports and extra-curricular activities as well as toilet facilities and conveniences of the best breed.
The modern schools constructed by Aregbesola was described as “educational monument” and a “legacy project”, capable of creating unquantifiable future for the present and incoming generation.
The government also distributed 750, 000 free uniforms to pupils in public schools. The programme gave birth to a garment manufacturing company, Omoluabi Garment Company Ltd, which employed 3,000 workers at full capacity.
READ: REVIEW & OUTLOOK: Aregbesola’s World Class Model Schools; Only The Deep Can Call To The Deep
RECRUITMENT AND MOTIVATION
OSUN DEFENDER noted that more than 12,000 teachers were employed in the eight years administration of Aregbesola to boost manpower in the school system. The government also put in place a policy that made teachers in elementary and middle schools to rise to level 16. In addition, the government appointed three Tutors Generals, equivalent to Permanent Secretary, in the three senatorial districts in the state. The government also established the Osun Education Quality Assurance and Morality Enforcement Agency to assure education quality and enforce morality in schools.
ENROLMENT
It was noted that the school feeding programme started by Oyinlola but upgraded to the Osun Elementary School Feeding programme tagged O’MEALS by Aregbesola and the infrastructure and free school uniform put in place boosted enrolment of school children. There was 60 per cent jump in enrolment rates, with Osun State having one of the highest enrolment rates in Nigeria.
No fewer than 200,000 children of school age were enrolled in public elementary schools in the state in 2013/2014 academic session, which was not the situation before Aregbesola’s emergence. Osun was ranked second state with highest number of out of school children in the federation in 2009.
Overall, the O’MEAL programme grew from serving 155,000 children at inception in 2011 to over 250,000 children in all 1,382 public primary schools. The O-Meals programme was so successful so much that it partly inspired the Federal Government’s decision to resurrect it.
The investments of the Aregbesola years was justified by the performance of students in external examinations. Before Aregbesola’s emergence in 2010, the highest performance of Osun public school students in West African Examination Council (WAEC) was 15.68%. The state had recorded 10.91 in 2006, 6.86% in 2007, 10.11% in 2008, 13.98% in 2009, 15.68% in 2010, 21.9% in 2011, 22.21% in 2012, 20.54% in 2013, 18.55% in 2014 and 21.64% in 2015, according to reports released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The performance of the state improved to 45.5% in 2016 with a short decline of 43.50% and 40.85% in 2017 and 2018 respectively. However, there was laudable improvement in 2019 May/June WAEC performance as the state recorded 50.16%.
Osun Education From 2018 – 2022
Taking over from Aregbesola was Adegboyega Oyetola, who served as Chief of Staff for seven and a half years under his predecessor.
Oyetola, who vowed that his government was a ‘continuity’ of the achievements and legacies of ‘his boss’ deviated from his campaign promises and embarked on a reversal of all of the education policies which he campaigned to protect.
POLICY REVERSAL
The Oyetola administration constituted a review panel led by Professor Olu Aina, which recommended the reversal of the policies.
READ: EDITORIAL: A Legacy Embedded In Hearts And Minds
As part of the decisions reached with the policy reversal, the mega schools were depopulated and students were returned to some of the old schools either marked for demolition or noted for urgent renovation. The Oyetola-led government dissolved the Omoluabi Education Services Limited and disengaged all companies that was in-charge of maintenance of public schools, especially the modern structures.
The administration also failed to either erect new structures, complete the on-going projects in the education sector as at the time.
Impact, Performance And Result Of Policy Reversals
OSUN DEFENDER gathered from the NBS that Osun State declined from 2019’s 50.16% in WAEC performance to 4.78 in 2020 and 32.55 in 2021. Osun was also rated the state with highest number of out of school children in the South-West, according to the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS-6), a National Bureau of Statistics data, supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Putting perspectives to the survey, UNICEF Social Policy Specialist, Muhammad Okorie, said 14.88 per cent male children in Osun and 11.5 per cent female, making 13 per cent average rate, were out of school in the state.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had in 2013 rated Osun as the state with highest number of primary school enrollment in Nigeria, and the state with lowest index of unemployment in the country as at 2017. In the 2013 school year, the overall rate of children enrolled in primary school was 95.2 per cent (95.8 per cent for boys and 94.6 per cent for girls).
MOVING FORWARD
A visit by OSUN DEFENDER to the schools invested in by the Aregbesola administration espoused the ugly state of school infrastructure in Osun, sharp retrogression in the student-teacher ratio, as well as other challenges. The current administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke is encouraged to take decisive steps, without politics, to revamp the education sector and bring back the lost glory.
Below are the condition of schools visited by OSUN DEFENDER
Ila Grammar School
Ila, a major town in Osun State, benefited from the education intervention of the Aregbesola era with the construction of 3000 capacity Ila High School (former Ila Grammar School), with six laboratories, toilets separated equally for boys and girls, two libraries for science and arts each, facility manager’s office, a bookshop and a sick bay. Ila High school had an increased population of about 2000 students following the merger of Ajagunla Grammar School, Isedo High School and College High School.
However, the school was depopulated when Oyetola ordered the students to return to their old schools. Currently, Ila Grammar School has about 450 students with just two science teachers. According to some students, the total number of teachers in the school is 25. The students described the state of their laboratories as dysfunctional.
OSUN DEFENDER visited the school on Tuesday and discovered that buildings are in disrepair. Some of the aluminum windows and roof of some of the new buildings have fallen off while the old buildings have dilapidated. Some of the toilets were messed up as there was no enough water to serve the school. The doors of some classrooms have detached while tiles of some of the classrooms and officers have also removed. The school hall has also dilapidated.
One of the secondary schools where students were returned to is Isedo High School in Ila. It has about 200 children with 15 teachers and two nonteaching staff. A teacher from the school told OSUN DEFENDER that the school was in short of teacher, particularly those who can teach science subjects. He disclosed that the school was without a laboratory.
ST JULIUS MIDDLE SCHOOL which was upgraded from Primary School during the Aregbesola’s era, was fair in both structure and personnel. The school was changed to Grammar School after the reversal of the merger policy by Oyetola. None of the teachers and students were ready to speak with the medium when visited on Wednesday. However, the school buildings looked solid and maintained from sight.
READ: {PERSPECTIVE} Osun Education: Between Reforms, Vindictiveness And Politics
COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL (ERIPA) Without English Teacher
Eripa, a community in Boluwaduro local government, has only one public secondary school, Community High School. Unfortunately, the school did not have English and Yoruba teachers, even when it paraded nine teachers as of the time of filing this report. The population of students in the school was said to be about 300 for both Junior and Secondary School. According to a member of Parent Teacher Association (PTA), only nine teachers were available in the school. “We do not have English and Yoruba teachers”, said an SS1 student of the school. Three of the nine teachers are taken science subjects. There was no laboratory, toilet, library and water facilities in the school when OSUN DEFENDER visited on Wednesday. The school buildings were in disrepair.
The situation is similar at BAPTIST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL in the same town. The medium learnt that the school has just four permanent teachers and two others engaged by the PTA. There was no chair and table for pupils. This is just as two buildings in the school needs urgent attention for rehabilitation. It was gathered that the school was also suffering of insufficient instructional materials.
AKINORUN GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Akinorun High School is a Mega School around Monday market area, Ikirun. Students from Onaolapo Memorial High School, African Church Grammar school, Coker Memorial High School were drawn to Akinorun High School during the merger. In spite of that, the students were not up to the 3000 capacity of the mega school, leaving some classrooms unoccupied. The school, like other suffered maintenance and depopulation by the Oyetola administration.
OSUN DEFENDER noted that most of the classes in the school were without window while ceilings of some buildings were also dropping. One of the teachers who spoke with the medium on condition of anonymity said: “The condition of building at Akinorun Grammar School is extremely bad. Most of the classes don’t have window again. The chairs are not adequate and water is no longer running in the toilets.”
The hall of the school, as noted by the medium is faulty to the extent that it is always full of water whenever it rains. The condition of laboratories of the school was not known because none of the staff of the school provided information and the medium was not given access. It was noted that the number of students in the school has reduced, following the return of students to their old schools.
An educationist who claimed to know more about the school told OSUN DEFENDER that “the total number of students in Akinorun, African Church and Coker at present are less than 1,000 each. I mean from JSS one to SS3. Though they are still expecting more students to register for SS1 classes. The condition of laboratories and library is average in those schools but the toilets are in poor conditions, especially the students’ ones. But as for African Church and Coker, the old classes have been renovated comprehensively and they are relatively in a good shape at present.”
HOLY TRINITY MIDDLE SCHOOL, IKIRUN
Known as Holy Trinity Primary School, Oke Afo, Ikirun, the school was upgraded to Middle School with 1500 capacity. The new structure of the school is typical of a standard private secondary school with conducive learning environment. But the school was returned to its old standard, Primary, when Oyetola reversed the reclassification policy. The school was relatively maintained when OSUN DEFENDER visited, but there is more to be done in fixing some windows, doors and ceilings which were not in good shape. The toilets of the school were also in total mess.
WOLE SOYINKA HIGH SCHOOL, EJIGBO
Named after Noble Laureate, Wole Soyinka High School, Ejigbo, was the first to put into use among the Mega Schools in Osun in 2015. It was a new school that received students from existing secondary schools in the town. Currently, according to two different teachers, the school has up to 500 students with 18 teachers, including those who teach all science subjects.
Asked about the condition of laboratories, the teachers said: “The biology lab, chemistry and physics laboratories are in good condition but water is not running in all laboratories.”
Compared to other Mega schools, Wole Soyinka High School appeared better in management of the buildings. All the classrooms were in good condition but a section of the school hall roof has fallen. Tiles and interlocking fittings were firm when OSUN DEFENDER visited on Tuesday. It was gathered that no student of the school returned to their old schools when the directive came under Oyetola’s administration.
“Wole Soyinka High School was running just SS1-3 during the tenure of Aregbesola but during the Oyetola regime, the school started a full secondary system, JSS1-3 and SS1-3”, said a teacher.
YOUNG TAJUDEEN PRIMARY SCHOOL, OKINNI
Teachers in Young Tajudeen Primary School, Okinni have no specific seat. They look around for plastic chairs to sit. Aside lack of chairs, the school is also suffering from shortage of teachers. Only 12 teachers are available for over 300 pupils. OSUN DEFENDER noted that the school was not fenced; and teachers and pupil walked outside the school premises to fetch water.
The situation is similar at OLOFA PRIMARY SCHOOL, Ofatedo in Egbedore local government of the state. The school buildings are not appealing to sight. “We have made several complaints about the school buildings but the government is yet to address to us. We don’t have toilet, government needs to complete our fencing and provide security guard in the school. Hoodlums do take over the school premises after school hours”, said a teacher in the school.
OSUN DEFENDER also visited COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL, OLORUNSOGO, Egbedore local government and noticed that the roofs of some of the school buildings have collapsed. Majority of the classrooms were without windows. The office of the Headmaster was nothing to write home about. The school which has about 300 pupils and 15 teachers is an abode for hoodlums after the school hours because of the low fence. The school was enjoying water supply with the borehole provided by the Aregbesola’s administration.
A visit to ST. JOHN ANGLICAN PRIMARY SCHOOL, IFON in Orolu local government area of the state indicated that pupils and teachers of the school were exposed to danger as hoodlums stray into the school premises at will. OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the school have for years been experiencing constant burgling because of lack of fence and security. Besides, the school with over 400 pupils has just 10 teachers.
Iwo Mega School Remains Uncompleted
Osogbo, Ilesa and Iwo have special Mega School made of prefabricated light gauge steels. Osogbo Government (Grammar) High School, Osogbo and Ilesa Government (Grammar) High School, Ilesa and other Mega schools have been put to use between 2015 and 2018, the Iwo Government (Grammar) School has unluckily remained uncompleted, sitting comfortably on a bushy 10,000 square metres of land on the premises of Iwo Grammar School, along Araromi road in the Olodo-Oba town. Like other mega school, it has 72 classrooms and a large hall, utility storage, office spaces, storage for documents, eight restrooms (four each for males and females), sporting facilities, a borehole, standalone transformer and firefighting devices.
Oyetola administration appeared to have also dragged its feet on the project, as no visible move was made to make the facility usable.
When OSUN DEFENDER visited the school on Tuesday, it observed that some windows and asbestos had started falling off. The school has been left to the mercy of offending vegetation while its beauty and characteristics fade away.
IWO GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Founded as a Community co-education secondary school at the then vacant Oke-Afo District Council school on March 2, 1964, Iwo Grammar School appears to be most popular secondary school in the town. But the standard of the school is falling off, according to findings by OSUN DEFENDER.
With over 1700 JSS 1- SS3 students, the school has just 11 science teachers, though the total number of teachers in the school could not be ascertained as of the time of filing the report. It was noted that majority of the classrooms in the school were without windows and doors. Majority of the school buildings were in disrepair, while dilapidated buildings litred the school premises.
COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL, ILEOGBO
One of the schools that urgently needs intervention of the state government is Community High School, Ileogbo, headquarters of Ayedire local government. The sight of the school was appalling; the existing buildings are nothing but threat to the safety of both the students and teachers.
There was no befitting structure in the school with close to 600 students. The school, as of the time visited on Wednesday, did not have toilet facilities, laboratory, library and water.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that there were 27 teachers in the school. Five of the teachers take science subjects, it was gathered.
OSOGBO GOVT (GRAMMAR) HIGH SCHOOL
Commissioned by President Mohammadu Buhari on September 1, 2016, Osogbo Government High School which has retained its old name of Grammar School, was the first to be completed among the special mega schools. It was made of prefabricated light gauge steels.
The school produced the winner of the year 2020 Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award Competition, Master Akintade Abdullahi Akanbi. Commenting on the Osogbo High School building, Akintade said: “The school is indeed a model school in terms of structure and content. It has nice structures and the teachers here are very competence and professional. They are doing great work to ensure the students here get the best of education. The science laboratory here is well equipped and has helped me to build more on both theoretical and practical aspect of my education. The school standard is the best. You can never see a structure like this in both private and other public schools in the state. Without being boastful, you can hardly find this type of school anywhere in the country. It is not only about the structures, probe deeper and you would discover we have good teachers too. The school is better than private schools.”
But the Oyetola administration casted aspersion on the quality of the school buildings when it declared that it needed to carry out “Integrity Test” on it and other model schools built by Aregbesola. However, the report of the controversial integrity test was not disclosed till now.
However, OSUN DEFENDER noted that the tiles of some of the classrooms and stairs have remove, just as some windows have also fallen off. The classrooms walls were in bad condition, just as the ceiling in few classrooms needs renovation. The laboratories of the school were in good shape but the toilets for students were not properly maintained, in spite of availability of water.
The total number of students at the school is 1132 as of the time of filing this report.
SALVATION ARMY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Located at Alekuwodo, Osogbo, Salvation Army was a Primary school upgraded to Middle School by Aregbesola administration with a standard one-story building of 1500 capacity. However, the school is now a full secondary education following the reversal of the reclassification exercise by Oyetola. A visitation to the school on Wednesday show that windows of some of the classrooms have fallen off, but the building was in proper shape. OSUN DEFENDER could not ascertain the number of students and teachers in the school because none of the officials was ready to provide information.
NAWAIRUDEEN, a School without Geography, Government, Biology Teacher
OSUN DEFENDER visited NAWAIRUDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL, Oke Onitea, Osogbo and discovered that the school has enough buildings with the assistance of the old students. However, the school was suffering from shortage of teachers and furniture. It was gathered that with over 900 students, the school has about 23 teachers. According to some of the students, the Senior Secondary School students do not have teachers to take them geography, government and biology, while there was no Yoruba teacher in the entire school. A member of PTA in the school disclosed that the management of the school sourced for private biology teacher to be taken the students on a certain amount of money. The school, according to findings, did not have a computer laboratory when visited on Wednesday.
At ST. ANDREWS PRIMARY SCHOOL, OKE-BAALE, Osogbo, OSUN DEFENDER noted that the pupils were no longer making use of the toilets, as they defecate on bear floor. The school buildings were in good shape but there was no water supply.
OSUN DEFENDER also visited ANSARUDEEN PRIMARY SCHOOL, OKE-BAALE, Osogbo and discovered that the condition of the school buildings was deplorable. Majority of the classrooms were without windows while the roofs of the buildings have also collapsed. Also, there was no enough furniture for over 300 pupils. It was also discovered that the pupils’ toilet was in total mess. Sources in the school told the medium that government had five months ago inspected the school but has not come up with any renovation plan.
OSUN DEFENDER visited government schools in IKIRE AND IKOYI area of the state; it was observed that most of the schools need urgent attention.
Only three teachers, including the Headmaster were available at IKOYI COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL, Ikoyi. Though the building was in good shape, the school toilets were not functioning and there was no enough furniture for the students. “We have already lost most of our pupils to a public school in Oyo state because of lack of teachers. Also, our toilets have not been functioning since they were constructed. We also need government assistance in clearing the school bushes,” one of the teachers said.
The school buildings have completely dilapidated. OSUN DEFENDER noted most of the buildings are abandoned while the one being used were without ceilings and windows.
One of the staff members of the school said: “We don’t have enough teachers for even the Senior school who are going to sit for WAEC and it is a cause for concern. Look at all the building, they are nothing to write home about. “Only one person is taking English from JSS1 to SS3. We only have Mathematics teachers for the senior schools.”
AYEDAADE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, Gbongan
The total number of students at Ayedaada Grammar School is 962, with 27 teachers. The laboratory and library of the school were fairly good when OSUN DEFENDER visited on Tuesday. Though the borehole of the school was working but there was no adequate water supply as a result of nonavailability of fund to buy fuel to pump water. The school hall was near damaged as observed by this medium, just as the pavilion was in a very bad condition.
EDE HIGH SCHOOL was relatively in good shape except for the hall and pavilion of the school which were in disrepair. Some of the windows and ceilings of the classrooms have also broken.
OSUN DEFENDER noted that the laboratories and library were also in good condition but some of the toilets were in bad state. The school with over 1000 students has 43 teachers, according to sources in the school. It was noted that borehole was functioning in the school but there is no provision for fuel to pump water.
“There are no enough teachers in the school and the buildings need some renovation”, said one of the teachers.
ILESA GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Like other specially built Mega schools, Ilesa Grammar school is a 3000 capacity structure with 72 classrooms and a large hall, utility storage, office spaces, storage for documents, eight restrooms (four each for males and females), sporting facilities, a borehole, standalone transformer and firefighting devices. But the school is currently underutilized. The school, according to sources when OSUN DEFENDER visited on Tuesday, has about 1200 students with just 40 teachers. The laboratories and library of the school were in good condition but the toilets were messed. It was observed that water was no running in the toilets. According to some students of the school, the borehole was not connected to the building, making it difficult to have sufficient water for use.
However, some of the buildings need repair. OSUN DEFENDER noted that the roof and ceiling of some classrooms have broken.
The condition of CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM HIGH SCHOOL, Iyemogun, Ilesa was very disheartening. Almost all the classrooms, the principal office and staff rooms have leaking roofs. The school has no functioning laboratory and there was lack of teachers for some core subjects. The school is operating with only one English teacher. The medium also gathered that the students get drenched whenever it rained.
According to one of the heads of the school, “The old students spent almost a million naira to buy laboratory equipment for the school but there is no good building and we don’t have Physics and Chemistry teachers to teach the students. We are just using the PTA teachers to teach some of these subjects.”
At L.A. PRIMARY SCHOOL, Irogbo, only one teacher and the school Headmistress was taking the classes. The medium gathered that the teacher is taking Primary 1-3 while the school headmistress is taking Primary 4-6 classes. The school building and toilets were in good shape.
OSUN DEFENDER visited CHRIST ANGLICAN ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOL, ILERIN, Ilesa; it was discovered that most of the classroom were in bad shape. The class currently being occupied by Primary Six pupils is a death trap. Some parts of the roof of the class has blown off with the building already caving in. A source in the school told the medium that pupils in the class do scamper for shelter whenever it rains or sunny. There were only three teachers, including the Headmistress in the school which is without toilet or water. The students were also lacking chairs and tables to use.
OSUN DEFENDER visited some areas in Ife Federal Constituency and observed that some of the public primary and secondary schools are in bad conditions. The medium noted that lack of good classrooms, water supply, toilet, furniture and teachers are major challenges facing some of the schools visited.
ODUDUWA COLLEGE, Ile-Ife, a Mega School built by Aregbesola with 3000 capacity, is currently underutilised. Majority of the classrooms were unused. As of the time of filing this report, the school has a little above 500 students with 40 teachers, with three science laboratories, one home economics workshop and one art studio. The roof of the biology laboratory of the school was leaking when OSUN DEFENDER visited on Tuesday. Many of the toilets have been reportedly vandalized by the students. It was gathered that the ceiling of the computer room has also broken, just as majority of windows and doors in the school buildings have been removed by louts who usually invade the school after school hours. But the school enjoys adequate water supply. OSUN DEEFENDER noticed that the floors of some of the classrooms have been destroyed with some of the tiles removed, just as the ceiling fans have been destroyed also.
The medium also proceeded to BAPTIST CENTRAL PRIMARY SCHOOL, ILARE, where three schools were merged. The three schools are L.A Primary school, St. John and And Central Anglican Primary School. The school, according to sources who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER, has over 600 pupils with 20 teachers. The buildings of L.A Primary School and Central Anglican Primary School were converted to Vigilante’s office, it was observed.
IDITA COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL has six buildings with three in dilapidated conditions. OSUN DEFENDER noted that the school did not have enough teachers; only six teachers were sighted by this medium in the school premises when visited. Some of the students who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER said they have no laboratories, furniture, water supply and toilet facility. The students stated that they go into the bush or their homes to defecate.
CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM HIGH SCHOOL, Ipetumodu has received government attention after OSUN DEFENDER report. According to one of the old students, Kehinde Oyetumbi, the report by this medium on the school ignited positive reaction from the State Universal Basic Education which has embarked on the construction of three classrooms. However, the school still needs more classrooms and a science laboratory. Also, the school lack enough teachers as it is making use of corps members to teach major subjects.
The condition of ST. STEPHEN PRIMARY SCHOOL, Alagbagun, Modakeke as observed by OSUN DEFENDER was pathetic. The school has no chairs, textbooks, teachers, toilet facility, water supply, among others. The school has three buildings with only one manageable for students.
Meanwhile, the situation is even worse at ST. STEPHEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL, Modakeke. The school with over 700 students has about 11 teachers, including the principal when visited. It was gathered that there was no English teacher in the school which is also lacking enough furniture. The school has no Vice-Principal as at the time of filing this report.
OSUN DEFENDER also visited to L.A PRIMARY SCHOOL, AJEBAMDELE, Ile-Ife; it was discovered that there was no portable water supply and most of the buildings were in a dilapidated condition. It was noted that two of the four buildings in the school were in good shape.
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
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