Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State has concluded plans to reverse the controversial single school uniform introduced in the state in 2013 in the first term of his predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola.
The state had just introduced unified school uniforms across the state, and in what the administration described as leadership by example, the governor and his deputy appeared in public dressed in samples of the uniforms. But apart from the economic crisis cited by the critics, many stakeholders including teachers, parents and alumni of different schools, said the government’s decision would not only create identity problems but may also obliterate the history of schools.Also, Mr Aregbesola’s administration introduced the school reclassification policy, leading to the merger of schools, and abolition of gender and religious-based sentiments.
The decision, the former governor had consistently noted, were products of comprehensive appraisal of the state’s education sector at an education summit chaired by Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, in 2011, shortly after he assumed power. In fact, ANCOPSS, in a release shared with the state government noted that the same uniform introduced by the state had led to influx of notorious gangs to popular schools such as Saint Charles School in Osogbo, the state capital, where they claimed teachers and pupils were constantly attacked.
On January 24, 2019, the leadership of ANCOPSS in the state, led by the immediate past chairman, Biodun Abiosun, met with the state’s head of service, Olowogboyega Oyebade, and other government functionaries to reiterate their call for review of the education policies. “It is important to let you know that in the interest of the generality of our people and in the spirit of democracy, I directed that all the 26 issues raised in the Executive Council Memorandum be discussed extensively and dispassionately with a view to arriving at informed decisions on every issue,” Mr Oyetola, who was represented by his deputy, Benedict Alabi, stated at the opening of the two-day roundtable summit by the committee in Osogbo on Thursday.
But some Islamic faith adherents in the state have kicked against the composition of the membership of the committee, saying only one Muslim was selected. They said a statement on the matter will soon be jointly released by their organisation and the Sharia Council of Islamic Affairs in the state.While both the governor’s spokesperson and the information commissioner could not be reached as at the time of filing this report, two cabinet members in the state, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told PREMIUM TIMES, that since the governor who would take the final decision on the issues is a Muslim, there should be no reason for fear of bias.
We all knw the person who introduced the policies came to scam the good people of Osun State and he succeeded doing it but we thank God now we have a Governor with listening ears.
Watch out, Osun Crises Scene 1 Part 1. Another Battle of the Elites brewing;like Edo and Akwa Ibom.
I like this. Aregbesola goofed big time.
How on earth would a reasonable police force open fire on unarmed civilians? Don't they know where they should go and use their weapons in the North-East? They won't dare go there.
The best news I have ever read today. It seems he wants to do same in prison.
Very good move.
Let Governor Oyetola go the whole way by allowing Old Students Association and religious bodies take over running some of these schools