The Executive Chairman of the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Evangelist Olalekan Ifede, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ensuring that no child is denied access to basic education.
Ifede stated that basic education is free in Ogun State and every learner should have equal opportunity to attend public schools.
He spoke during the second day of the Board’s school resumption monitoring exercise in the Ogun Central Senatorial District, following a similar exercise in parts of Ogun East Senatorial District.
The SUBEB chairman specifically warned headteachers and teachers against demanding money from parents as a condition for admitting their children into public primary schools.
He charged school heads and teachers to remain committed to delivering quality education and ensuring that every learner acquires basic literacy and communication skills needed to compete favourably with pupils in private schools.
Ifede also stressed the importance of phonics in developing early literacy, urging teachers to adopt phonics-based teaching strategies and learner-centred approaches in the classroom.
He encouraged teachers to relate with pupils with love and understanding, while directing schools to intensify enrolment drives within their communities to ensure that more children have access to education.
The SUBEB chairman further urged headteachers and teachers to maintain professional appearances and serve as role models to learners.
He directed schools to utilise vacant portions of their premises for agricultural activities and beautification.
Ifede also appealed to philanthropists supporting educational infrastructure to expedite the completion of ongoing projects to enable learners to benefit from the facilities.
Responding, the Headteacher of St. John Anglican Primary School II, Kuto, Abeokuta, Mrs Oluwatoyin Oyedele, appreciated the state government and SUBEB for creating an enabling environment for teaching and learning.
Oyedele pledged to implement the directives issued by the Board.
Similarly, the Headteacher of Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School II, Onagbooro, Abeokuta North, Mr Thanni Babatunde, pledged to strengthen supervision and ensure that every learner acquires basic computer skills.
He also promised to make the school’s Information Technology Room available to learners from neighbouring schools.
The monitoring team also visited Rev. Kuti Memorial Primary School, Isabo; Nawair-Ud-Deen Primary School, Isale-Ijeun; Abeokuta North Local Government Primary School, Ago Owu; and Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School I, Onagbooro, Abeokuta North.
The visits were aimed at assessing the schools’ preparedness for the new academic session and reinforcing SUBEB’s commitment to improving teaching and learning across public primary schools in Ogun State.