Governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ogun State, Mr. Gboyega Isiaka, has said he did not promise to return mission schools to their former owners.
He said his statement on the issue “was largely an intention borne out of the burning desire to effect a revamp of our educational system; and it was not as definitive as was reported.”
Isiaka, in a statement, said that excellence in education was topmost on his ‘Seven Steps to Greatness’ manifesto, adding that the party intended to “launch a comprehensive package on how to turn around the obvious qualitative and quantitative deficit and stop the decay in our educational system in Ogun State, and in the process, secure a better future for our children.”
According to him, among the options being considered to revamp education in the state was to encourage the private sector, non-governmental organisations, religious bodies, alumni associations and other interests to participate in the educational sector within the policies and guidelines of government.
Isiaka said this would be in addition to the determination to expand and enhance educational infrastructure and facilities across the state.
The ADC candidate stated that comprehensive programme to guide the state education plan would be developed from an education summit where all stakeholders would express their interests, adding that a key component of that event would be conversations around the mission schools.
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Isiaka argued that the morale of teachers in the state was down because of lack of motivation and encouragement from a government that saw no reason to enhance human capital, the result, according to him, was the low quality in education as shown in various external examinations in the state.
He said a state of emergency would be declared as part of the planned summit, assuring Ogun people that none of his policies would be a burden to the people.
He said that the focus of all his administration’s decisions would be in the interest of the people.
