OGBOMOSO: Who is against de-articulation of schools?
Ben GEORGE
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One of the best things to ever happened to education in Oyo state was the de-articulation of public secondary schools leading to the achievement of 30 students per class ratio. The policy, introduced by Governor Rasheed Ladoja, engendered big relief in schools with some schools then having close to 4,000 students, which became difficult to manage. It came with other advantages such as accelerating career development of teachers – many who wouldn’t have tasted the position of principalship before retiring rose to the rank; construction of new structures to accommodate the new schools led to boom in the economies of communities; redistribution of wealth also was triggered in that the meagre schools resources spilled into more hands; greater control over students; decentralisation which elicited effectiveness and many more.
But suddenly in 2014 or thereabouts it’s learnt this was tinkered with. Schools which had split into six shrank into three, some became two and others reverted to the old one-school structure. This of course came with a lot of disadvantages. Fortunes were reversed, the old plagues resurfaced and so on. Shockingly however it later was discovered that this new development was enacted only in Ogbomoso zone as in other zones, there were still junior and senior schools.
Upon further investigations it was discovered that it was the handwork of some self-conceited, self-centred individuals whose cupidity for (illicit) wealth was excessively untamed. They worked with a few ministry of education’s officers to sabotage the policy. This among others stagnated career progression of many teachers and provoked escalation in the population of students in schools beyond easily manageable proportions.
Meanwhile, teachers were happy when at the beginning of this third term that commenced last week the Ministry of Education working in conjunction with the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) revisited the system and succeeded in the de-articulation of four schools in Ogbomoso viz: the premier secondary school in the city, Ogbomoso Grammar School, the two schools previously excised from it – Millennium Model Secondary School and Owode Community Grammar School and Anglican Grammar School. The four schools on the basis of their large students enrolment were vertically split thus each became two – school one and school two. According to findings they are to fully take off any moment though teachers have been redistributed, students’ reclassification is the next phase. With it more principals and vice principals have been appointed, therefore returning satisfaction, passion and excitement to the profession again. What is the gain of working for years and retiring without reaching the pinnacle of the profession?
Looking at this scenario (de-articulation), it is a good thing, perhaps there will be more control over students though there are other factors engendering students’ growing unruliness. In the final analysis it’s a right step in a right direction.
But of late, a discordant news is filtering in, it’s gathered. It is being insinuated some interests propelled by parochial gains or for whatever reasons have constituted themselves into some antagonistic force to hinder the process. It is learnt they are pulling strings behind the scene to cause a reversal. The picture is not yet clear but revert-to-status quo ante is well activated to the extent that formal petition has reached the Ministry of Education at the headquarters, it’s authoritatively gathered.
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“They will soon be unmasked the moment their identity (ies) is/are unambiguously confirmed. Though they might have their own good reasons but why are they working clandestinely? Why attempting to upturn what the Ministry of Education and TESCOM after thorough consideration have actualized?” A source queried while speaking with Ogbomoso Insight.
Overall, can their move be classified as progressive or retrogressive? Is it for parochial or collective good? Is it misuse of privilege?
We await how events pan out?
