The Ogun State House of Assembly Committee on Education has decried the poor condition of infrastructure in public schools across the state.
The committee, led by its Chairman, Adeyinka Mafe, said this during its oversight function at the state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
The lawmakers stated that many public schools in the state were in a sorry state while some of the schools had to cope with inadequate teachers in core subjects.
The committee members also expressed concern over the huge amount government budgeted for the construction of over 20 model schools in the state, while the existing public schools remained in deplorable conditions.
The committee therefore urged the state government to address the issue of poor infrastructure in public schools.
A member of the Committee, Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo, argued that the huge allocation to the construction of the model schools had resulted in the total neglect of public schools.
She said, “With this idea of model schools, we are trying to develop the model schools at the expense of the public schools. Majority of the public schools across the state are in bad shape, I think we should consider this position in the interest of the next generation.”
Another member of the committee, Israel Jolaoso, lamented over-population of students in classrooms, saying the development would not enhance effective teaching and learning processes.
“I think something has to be done concerning the state of the public schools. I almost wept recently concerning a school in my constituency, where pupils of three classes were merged together in a class. The situation is terrible,” Jolaosho said.
The committee advised the ministry to furnish it with the details of the total number of teachers in the state public schools and the number of teachers needed by the ministry.
The Special Adviser to the state Governor on Education, Dr. Tunji Abimbola, explained that arrangements were already being made by the government to renovate some public schools currently in bad shape.
Abimbola said, “We are not only building the model schools, we have concluded arrangement for the rehabilitation of public schools across the state in order not to create any gap. Definitely, some of our public schools will feel a touch of the ongoing infrastructural development in the state.”
