By Waheed Adekunle

IT is evident that the present administration in Osun led by Governor Rauf Aregbesola has since inception committed largest chunks of the state’s resources to revamping the education sector as this is manifest in the achievements recorded so far. Reports have shown that the three senatorial districts of the state namely: Osun Central Senatorial District, Osun West Senatorial District and Osun East Senatorial District had in the last six and a half years witnessed a tremendous change and geometric progression not only in the education sector but in all aspects of human endeavours. The giant strides, however, did not stop at Senatorial Districts, but rather moved across the nine Federal Constituencies in the state. The Aregbesola administration’s resolve to take the bull by the horn in the education sector coupled with his genuine policy that gave masses, particularly the vulnerable, ample opportunities to access quality public education without hindrance had increased the soaring popularity of the state and as well made Osun a state to reckon with among its peers. The All Progressives Congress-led government in the state has, no doubt, showcased to the entire world that free education is not a lip service but a practical exercise that must reflect and manifest in the lives, of the masses particularly those whose income are low. The policy of “every child must go to school” initiated by the Aregbesola administration had not only rejuvenated the education sector but rekindled interest in public education, as education facilities being put in place outsmart those at the private schools. The initiative widens the scope of public school enrollment  at a very impressive percentage and as well gives parents ultimate access to functional and quality public education for their children. It has also reflected in students’ performances both in internal and external examinations since 2010. Moreover, it has been consistently reported that Osun’s education model had not only taken the centre point of the national education policy but contributed significantly to modern education systems and structures in the world. The impacts and imparts of Osun’s education policy which had been nationally and internationally adopted and replicated however made the state to be the first state in Nigeria to record such feat in the history of this country. Let’s take for instance, these efforts genuinely made by the present administration in Osun West Senatorial District as regards educational infrastructure and renaissance. Osun West Senatorial District has enjoyed a minimum of N11 billion (N10, 810,000,000.00) worth of investment in the education sector since 2010 till now. It is on record that six  Model Elementary schools were built and commissioned with 150 classrooms across the Osun West Senatorial District while two of these schools were built in Iwo Local Government, one in Ayedaade Local Government, one in Ayedire Local Government and two in Ede South Local Government. In the same vein, nothing less than seven Model Middle schools were built and commissioned with 175 classrooms across Osun West Senatorial District. t One of these state-of-the-art schools was built in Irewole Local Government; one in Ejigbo Local Government, two in Iwo Local Government, two in Ayedaade Local Government and one in Irewole Local Government. Also, four Model High Schools were built and commissioned across the Osun West Senatorial District where one of these model schools was built in Ejigbo Local Government, one in Ede South Local Government, one in Iwo Local Government and one in Irewole. Likewise, more than 600 classrooms across 100 models schools were renovated in conjunction with UBEB: 2,094 sets of of furniture supplied to the schools across the ten LGAs that make up Osun West Senatorial District. Also, about 20 scholar buses and 50 personnel deployed to the Senatorial District and more than 50,000 students have benefited from the Opon-Imo project in three years. It is also on record that over 2,000 OYES cadets from Osun West Senatorial District were deployed to different schools as teachers just as about 1, 076 regular teachers were recruited from the same zone while 900 teachers were trained in 26 different training programmes and workshops. In addition, more than 6,000 teaching and non-teaching staff were promoted from Osun West Senatorial District while more than 84,000 pupils get fed daily under school feeding programmes for which 1,000 cooks were employed all from the Senatorial District. The statistics show that ‎about 68 million delicious meals have been served since 2012 across 500 schools in the Osun West Senatorial District, while 300,000 school uniforms were distributed free to students across the 10 LGAs of the Senatorial District. The government’s achievements in the state of Osun are not only limited to the West Senatorial District. they are visible all overthe state. However, for lack of time and space.

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Adekunle writes from Osogbo.