The Ogun government says efforts are in top gear to commence the rehabilitation of 236 blocks of classrooms across all wards in the state.
Mr. Olu Aikulola, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, said this on Monday while defending the 2019 budget performance of the ministry in Abeokuta before members of the Ogun Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Technology.
The permanent secretary noted that it was important to provide conducive environment toward developing purposeful and inclusive educational system that would in turn produce learners who could compete favourably with their counterparts across the globe.
Aikulola said the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration upon assumption of office liaised with concerned stakeholders, including the ministry, to compile a comprehensive list of schools which needed to be given a face-lift across the council areas.
He expressed confidence that the renovation, when completed, would go a long way to encourage teaching and learning.
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Aikulola added that the ministry, which has 20 Zonal Offices, eight government owned science and technology colleges and a functional government technical and vocational centre, generated over N833 million between January and June.
Aikulola maintained that the state government had equally approved the extension of the Teach for Nigeria (TFN) Scheme for another period of four years tenure.
He said that the government had found it expedient to further engage the scheme which was put in place by a Non-Governmental Organisation which scouts for young graduates from various fields of studies with passion for teaching.
Aikulola said operatives in the scheme are posted to various primary schools across the state to complement the existing workforce.
Responding, Mr. Adeyemi Ademuyiwa, the House Committee Chairman, said that education remained the bedrock of advancement for any developing nation.
He called for holistic reform of the ministry to further improve on its performance, particularly in the provision of infrastructure and manpower improvement.
Adeyemi urged the ministry to look inwards and explore necessary means to promote the teaching of technical and vocational education.
He added that technical and vocational education could provide more employment opportunities, thereby serving as catalyst for boosting the economy. (NAN)