The Oyo State government has warned trespassers against the encroachment of landed properties belonging to public schools across the state.
The state Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Abdulwaheed Adelabu, gave the warning during a routine check at St. Agnes Basic School, Iluju, Ogbomoso, Oyo State on Friday.
The commissioner decried the alarming rate at which the premises and properties of the school, have been encroached upon by a neighbouring church and landgrabbers.
He said, “Government’s policies on encroachment on land still remains the same. Encroachment of any nature will not be entertained by the Oyo State government.”
Emphasising that the environment of learning was supposed to be totally devoid of any form of distraction, the commissioner stressed the need to go back to the basics and enforce discipline in order to bring about quality education in the state.
He therefore directed the Education Secretary, Oriire Local Government, to ensure proper investigation into the matter and report back to the ministry, through the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, OyoSUBEB.
In a related development, Prof. Adelabu has urged head teachers of the 21 Better Education Service Delivery For All, BESDA, public primary schools to put in innovative measures in the day-to-day administration of their schools.
The commissioner gave the charge today during a series of meeting with some BESDA-focused school head teachers in the state.
Stressing the importance of basic education to any country, Prof. Adelabu said that most development partners, focus more on supporting the primary education sector in the country.
The commissioner thanked all teachers for their support for the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration, insisting that the state government will not relent in its efforts to make basic education sub-sector more attractive for better education.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Jacob Dairo, warned against illegal collection of fees, adding that it is totally prohibited in Oyo State.
Local governments visited by the visiting team, led by the commissioner, and comprising of the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adeniyi Olusanjo and top management team of OyoSUBEB, include: Iseyin; Saki West; Igboho; Oriire; Oyo-West local government areas, among others.
