In its bid to enhance quality standard of education, better service delivery, execution of programmes and projects this year, the Osun State Government has allocated a whopping N3.556 billion to the education sector, representing 21.82 per cent of the total budget of N38.009 billion for the state.

The state Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Elder Moses Adetoyese Ojo, who disclosed the amount during the analysis and breakdown of the 2008 budget, said the education sub-sector has witnessed steady landmark development since the Oyinlola administration came on board five years ago.

Ojo explained that the government would continue to accord the education sub-sector its rightful place in the scheme of things and that N3,556,523,780 billion as against N3,284,889,952 in 2007 has been earmarked for the execution of various programmes and projects, thus having the second lion share of the budget.

His words: “Government will continue to pursue its free and qualitative education programme with greater zeal and vigour in the 2008 budget. The effective execution of the various programmes and projects which have been carefully packaged in the budget under this sub-sector will further enhance the quality and standard of education in the state.”

The commissioner highlighted some of the projects to be executed in the sub-sector and the amount allocated to include provision of furniture to secondary schools including payment of outstanding claim at N67million, introduction of computer education into secondary school /provision of computer at N9.5million, Home Economic equipment N1.350million, construction of laboratories for unity/science/public secondary schools N25million, scholarship/bursary award for undergraduate and post-graduate students at N31million, infrastructure to zonal/local education offices N1.800million, purchase/refurbishment of motor vehicles N1.800million, supply of instructional materials/school records including payment of old claim of N20 million.

According to him, others are purchase of sports equipment for secondary schools N2million, purchase of office equipment and furniture N1.8 million, buying of computer peripherals N900,000, purchase of text books in core subjects for secondary school students N45million, buying of textbook for pupils in primary schools N45million, exercise books for students in secondary and payment of outstanding claim of N36million, Osun Mass Education Agency (OSMEA) N900,000, payment of WAEC/NABTEB fees (N126 million), establishment of a secondary school for the handicapped children in Osogbo at a cost of N9 million, provision for payment of old debts to contractors (N900,000), office accommodation for four zonal and 29 local education offices (N4 million), rehabilitation of school building in border communities (N6 million).

Ojo also revealed that the allocated amount to the sub-sector would be used to provide furniture to primary school pupils and teachers at N90million, girl-child education in science and technology received N450,000, Globe programme N1.8 million, Teaching Service Commission N2 million, Osun State Library Board projects N9million, development of Osun State Polytechnic (N134 million), College of Technology, Esa-Oke (N108 million), Osun State College of Education, Ilesa (N50 million), Osun State College of Education, Ila (N70 million), capital grant to LAUTECH, Ogbomoso (N270 million), capital projects for SUBEB (N1.162 billion), capital projects of Board for Technical and Vocational Education (N108 million), capital grant to Osun State University (N206 million) and Home Grown School Feeding and Health Programme (state contribution), N328 million.

He stressed that the 2008 budget which is christened “The budget of renewal and actualization” is predicated on the policy thrust to ensure the provision of sustainable infrastructural facilities in Osun state, qualitative free health and educational services to people from primary to secondary school while education at the tertiary level would continue to be subsidized.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola confirmed that his administration made a substantial effort in 2007 to fully implement its promises of providing quality education, execution of programmes and projects to the electorate.

According to him, one of the positive results of his administration’s bold initiative in the education sector last year, was the establishment of the Osun State University and that it commenced operations in September 2007, saying: “Government is determined to ensure that its goal of making UNIOSUN a world class university is attained within a short period.”

Oyinlola, who unfolded his 2007 achievements in Osogbo, said his government has continued to fulfill its obligations to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, jointly owned by Osun and Oyo states against the backdrop of the need to produce high quality graduates from its tertiary institutions and that in the past huge funds were provided for these centres of learning.

The Osun helmsman explained that government provided instructional materials and constructed numerous blocks of classrooms to cope with the increasing school enrolment and the replacement for the many dilapidated structures in schools while the provision of free text-books for primary and secondary school students he said cost N820 million.

The governor further explained that N110 million was expended on the procurement of furniture items for public primary and secondary schools while notable expenses include N58million for the payment of state bursary and N120 million for payment of centralized local government bursary awards for state indigenes in tertiary institutions throughout the federation.

Said he: “I must state that the situation had improved considering from what we inherited. The provision of instructional materials has been given a boost with the purchase and supply of reference books for our schools. My administration has continued to boost the morale of those engaged in the education sector through regular training, promotions and other welfare packages.