Kehinde Adewole Ado Ekiti
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has extended juicier largesse to public secondary schools three days after distributing instructional materials to government-owned primary schools in the state.
The governor, on Thursday, flagged off the distribution of educational materials to selected secondary schools across the three senatorial districts of the state.
Governor Fayemi, who was represented at the ceremony by his deputy, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, said the distribution of the materials was the first phase of his administration’s intervention programme in public schools.
Items distributed include 2000 chairs and lockers, 550 students laptops, 9,792 copies of science text books and 1,100 set of drawing boards and T-square.
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The state chief executive disclosed that his administration would name four new secondary schools to be established in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, after eminent Ekiti indigenes as the schools are expected to take off in September 2019 when the new academic session resumes.
He said his administration gave approval to the four additional Secondary Schools in Ado Ekiti metropolis to tackle the problem congestion of students in classrooms of public secondary schools in the State capital.
The governor promised that his administration would continue to initiate policies geared towards restoring the State to the path of honour it was noted for.
Fayemi who disclosed that his government increased the budgetary allocation to Education in 2019 Budget to keep pace with the UNESCO recommendation of 26% of the total budget, said the increase would enable government provide basic educational needs for schools as captured in his knowledge economy agenda.
Identifying education as key to breaking the throes of generational poverty, Fayemi assured that he’s poised to ensuring a free and quality education for all children of school-age.
Acknowledging the receipt of world bank grant of 3 million US Dollars for the upgrading of technical colleges in the State, Fayemi said the state government was negotiating with an international school management outfit to manage the Gifted Schools at Isan, Afao and Ilawe Ekiti.
The governor added that his administration would ensure the full implementation of the pre-primary component of education curriculum with the prime purpose of leading the country in producing quality man power for the educational system.
Fayemi who stressed that improving the standard of Education in the State was a collective responsible, said; “I wish to thank all our education stakeholders for the onerous assignment of providing qualitative education with dignity and honour to Ekiti students.
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“This is a collective responsibility fate that posterity has bestowed on government, teachers and parents, and we are living up to the bidding.
“ladies and gentlemen, let me appeal to all education stakeholders to continue to support the government with a view to ensuring that the intervention of government produces the desired result.
“Ekiti State cannot afford to remain a dwarf in the comity of State in the education sector. The quest to restore our lost glory in the education sector is not negotiable.
Fayemi mentioned that the distribution of the educational materials was done to complement other motivational devices that include payment distribution of 3,000 free jamb forms for indigent students, procurement of science equipment and consumables and payment of outstanding incentives to beneficiaries of rural and core subject allowance among others.
Earlier in his address the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Ayo Ajayi explained that the distribution of the learning materials to public secondary schools in the State would further enhance teaching and learning outcomes in the schools across the State.
Mr. Ajayi said the support mechanism received in the sector from Fayemi led administration would provide a solid foundation for an excellent performance of students in both external and internal examinations.
The Tutor General Ekiti Central, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Arogundade and ANCOPSS Chairman in the State, Mr. Abiodun Omotosho commended the Fayemi led administration for declaring a state of emergency in the education sector with a view to restoring its lost glory.