APC, PDP In Verbal Darts Over N3.5bn For School Renovation

There was a diatribe between the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the #3.5 billion released for the renovation of public primary schools in Ondo State.

While the APC through its public secretary, Mr Alex Kalejaye hailed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for the release of #3.5 billion for the renovation of public primary schools, the opposition PDP through its public secretary, Mr Kennedy Peretei described the gesture as another empty campaign promise towards the November 16 governorship election.

The state government has approved an N3.5 billion counterpart fund for the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to support the construction and renovation of public primary schools across the state. This amount would be matched by the counterpart fund from the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC).

In his reaction to the release of the fund, Kalejaye said that the role of the education sector in development could not be overemphasised. The APC spokesman commended the governor for not paying lip service to the reconstruction of the entire sector.

Kalejaye described primary education as the foundation from which the higher schools harvest quality materials for further grooming. His words “No doubt, the primary education is a foundation; once it is solid, in terms of physical structures and teaching, the higher schools can be assured of quality harvest. The long years of inadequate attention, particularly to the primary schools, have almost crippled the system. In most places, pupils learn under dilapidated buildings.”

However, the PDP described the #3.5 billion as a Greek gift meant to deceive the electorate ahead of the governorship election.

Peretei in his statement wondered why the government just announced the release of the fund after the resumption of schools for the new academic session while it had the time during the holiday.

It said “Before schools resumed on Tuesday, 17th September, 2024, the Ondo State government had approximately two months to undertake whatever rehabilitation or renovations needed in schools.

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“But they waited till after resumption to announce that, the sum of N3.5 billion has been approved for rehabilitation and construction of public schools in the state. It is another campaign promise that will not be met, just like all other campaign promises that are awaiting fulfilment.

“I do not have the figures of students of state-owned tertiary institutions that dropped out of school when the APC government jerked up tuition fees beyond the reach of commoners in the State.

“Many parents are still in pain due to their inability to send their children to school due to tuition hikes. Candidates of the West African Examinations Council for Senior Secondary Schools had their results withheld because the Aiyedatiwa government refused to pay the registration fees that all previous governments paid on behalf of parents.

“How on earth can anybody dare say that, Ondo State is Lucky with Aiyedatiwa? The government that has reversed all progress made in education by almost twenty years?

“There are primary schools in the riverine areas where Governor Aiyedatiwa comes from that have just two government-paid teachers in the entire school. Teaching Primaries 1-6. Communities employ Community teachers through self-help to augment and salvage a bad situation.

“Even when the government announced the recruitment of teachers, the process was shrouded in secrecy and marred with politics and favouritism. Ondo State cannot be “Lucky” under such failed arrangements. Bursaries and grants from the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission ( OSOPADEC) are disbursed through questionable procedures. Indeed, Ondo State is very “Unlucky” in the area of education with Aiyedatiwa.

“Out-of-school children used to be an abstract term for most of us in Ondo State. But with the coming of the APC government, the reality is dawning on everybody that out-of-school children are not a fairy tale. Because in almost every home, there will be one out-of-school child, because parents can no longer cope with taking over responsibilities that hitherto were taken up by the government.” (New Telegraph)