The West African Examination Council, WAEC have released Its ranking of states for the year 2023.
Oyo state, according to the list sits at number twenty six behind states like Kogi, Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Nassarawa, Kano and even Boko Haram ravaged Borno state!
In the South West, Oyo state is ranked second to the last ahead of Osun state.
The unenviable position Oyo state finds itself in the WAEC ranking does not come at a surprise to many of us, it only serves as confirmation of what we have been saying all the while.
In the days of Lam Adesina, Rashidi Ladoja, Adebayo Alao Akala and Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo state was always amongst the top ten.
There were issues during the first term of former Governor Ajimobi.
However, the late Governor successfully rallied stakeholders in the Education sector and workable arrangements were made which already took care of the issues militating against quality Education in Oyo state.
Parents and Old students associations were brought to the table.
An agreed sum of three thousand Naira per session, payable at a thousand Naira per term was agreed upon.
Old students associations were encouraged to intervene in development of their Alma meta.
Boards for the supervision of public schools were constituted on voluntary basis.
The Education system in Oyo state was already on the right path to perfection before Governor Makinde dismantled the system without consultations.
He had promised “free Education” during his campaign for the office of Governor.
That in Itself is not a bad idea, provided there is e perfect plan to achieve it.
What is however unfortunate is the fact that Governor Makinde considered the eradication of the payment of a paltry three thousand Naira per session as ” free Education”.
In the first instance, the sum of three thousand Naira per session was a product of a mutual agreement between Government and the parents.
The said sum was not going to Government purse.
It was considered as aid to the school managements for the running of the schools.
It was from this contribution that the schools buy chalks, print exam papers and more.
At the point Governor Makinde eradicated the payment of the three thousand Naira per session per pupil, no parent was complaining about it.
The running of the schools have become smooth and there were no extra payments.
Governor Makinde while eradicating the payment of the three thousand Naira actually promised to be giving running costs to the school principals but it is a promise of the mouth.
The running costs have not been running smoothly and this has been taking a toll on public Education in Oyo state.
Schools in Oyo state can no longer afford to print question papers like they were doing before Governor Makinde stopped the payments by parents.
Parents now have to buy exam papers in public schools.
The schools Board which used to intervene to bring succor are no longer in existence.
Before Governor Makinde, Government was paying for the WAEC fees of pupils in public secondary schools in Oyo state.
In fact, late Governor Alao Akala payed for both the WAEC and NECO fees of pupils.
Governor Makinde is paying neither of both and yet, he goes about bragging about free Education!
The decline Oyo state is having in Education as is manifest through the WAEC ranking just released is the product of Governor Makinde’s lips service to the Education sector.
A visit to most public schools in Oyo state will draw tears from the eyes.
If not for the fact that private schools were factored in computing the ranking, Oyo state, I’m sure would have come last.
A state where the late Cicero of Esa Oke, who built secondary schools all over the state and ensured that free Education was given Its meaning.
A state where Rashidi Ladoja conveniently introduced and sustained a policy of forty pupil per class is now ranked twenty sixth behind Borno state that has been in crisis for years!
It is well with my state.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
