Use legitimate means to boost Ekiti’s rating in WAEC, NECO, Oyebanji tells principals
The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has charged the principals superintending over the secondary schools across the state to exhibit more legitimate commitments that would ensure better ratings for the state in public examinations in the country.
Oyebanji said he would never relent in promoting the welfare of Principals and teachers to live quality and comfortable lives commensurate to the services they render in the process of building the human capital resources available to the state.
The governor spoke on Tuesday, during the opening session of the three-day biannual Southwest Bloc’s Meeting of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), held in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
Oyebanji, represented by his Deputy, Chief Monisade Afuye, reminded the principals that high rating for Ekiti in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) remained a veritable yardstick to appraise the qualities of teachers being paraded by the state.
According to him, “Ekiti State is a Land of Honour and Fountain of Knowledge. Education is the major industry in Ekiti State, so we must make it thrive. You should also know that the overall performance of your students in external examinations is a direct reflection of the qualities of principals and teachers.
“I, therefore, implore you to use all legitimate methods to ensure your students excel in their examinations. I also advise you to prevail on the parents to fulfil their own obligations toward their children.”
Harping on the need for the citizens to key into the policy of his government to promote education, Oyebanji advised the principals to partner with private organisations and alumni associations to boost Infrastructure in schools.
“Education is a key to success in life. Ekiti State Government holds the principals of Secondary Schools in high esteem. This was demonstrated through the appointments of Principals as Tutors-General in the state.
“As of now, three former Principals are occupying the post of Tutors-General in the State. This appointment encourages other Principals to be diligent and hopeful of getting to a higher level before retirement,” he said.
Oyebanji stated that the State Government would not relent in fulfilling the agenda of putting machinery in place for more investment in the education sector, saying this reflected in the huge amount earmarked to the sector in the 2024 appropriation law.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Olabimpe Aderiye, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, appealed to teachers not to be disillusioned by challenges confronting their profession, assuring that the current government shall continually celebrate and reward them appropriately.
She revealed that the state government had expended a sum of N2.2 billion for the renovation of structures in schools, while improvements have been made on ICT facilities and laboratories, saying high provision to the education sector in the 2024 budget would spur more development in the sector.
Speaking at the event, the ANCOPPS Chairman, Southwest Bloc, Pastor Abraham Ojetunde, stated that the meeting would afford them the opportunity to cross-fertilise ideas on how to uplift the education sector across the southwest that was widely respected as the hub of eggheads in Nigeria.
Ojetunde, who doubles as the President of the Oyo chapter of ANCOPSS, added that the body should always maintain decorum, civility and intellectualism while handling any issue with the government and make education paramount to protect the future of the country.
