The gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (AP) in Oyo State, Chief Bayo Adelabu, has decried the parlous state of education in the state under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.
Adelabu was reacting to the protest staged by students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan that paralyzed activities in the institution on Monday, January 9.
The students have started a protest against the increase in Refusal Fee from N5, 000 to N15, 000. The practice in the institution is that new and returning students pay N30, 000 for accommodation and N5, 000 Refusal Fee which is added arbitrarily. for N15,000.
The students also protested against the continuous interference in the management of the school by introducing Platinum Consultants to manage their affairs.
The student noted that the handling of the institution’s revenue activities by the Consultant has made the Polytechnic Council redundant as it has become powerless.
According to the student, the consultant authorized the hike without notifying the student. While reacting through the media office of the Bayo Adelabu Campaign Organization (BACO), the AP gubernatorial aspirant expressed his dismay over education in the state, from primary to secondary school, in Makinde. He recalled that Oyo State is 33rd in the current WAEC ranking because of Makinde’s poor performance in education.
Adelabu also stated that more than 50 secondary schools were disbanded by WAEC due to incidents of examination malpractice, which is very much under the supervision of the current administration.
He said the state government has stopped giving funds to schools since last three years on the pretext that principals did not give their accounts in 2020.
Adelabu noted that this resulted in the school not being able to provide teachers and students with basic educational material needs in teaching and learning.
The gubernatorial candidate assured students and citizens of his determination to prioritize education at all levels if elected.