Oyo Education Commissioner Charges Principals On Dedication To Duty

…as Schools Prepare for 2024/25 Academic Session

The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, has charged Principals of public schools in the state to be more dedicated to their duties.

The Commissioner gave the charge on Tuesday at the pre- resumption meeting for 2024/25 Academic Session held with the Principals of Public Secondary Schools in Ibadan Zone 1,2,3 & 4 at Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan.

The commissioner urged all principals to strictly adhere to the 2024/25 academic calendar, adding that sanction awaits anybody who fails to abide by it.

He also called on all principals to be security conscious in their various schools, saying the recruitment of teaching and non teaching staff will bring more relief for protection of lives and properties in the schools.

He frowned at an incident of a student who attacked a teacher in the school, noting that such an issue should always be reported to the ministry for proper sanction.

He further admonished principals to desist from collecting any illegal fees, noting that the act could affect their career.

He pledged that the government will continue to provide a suitable and conducive environment for teaching and learning in various schools.

Prof .Adelabu applauded the PS/IGEs and PS/TGEs and principals for their steadfastness and loyalty to the present administration in the state.

According to him, “It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I address you all, our educational stakeholders, as we prepare for the commencement of the 2024/2025 academic session. This being my second privileged opportunity to address the management team of the public secondary schools in Oyo State, despite the nationwide protest towards the end of last school academic session.

"I thank you all for ending the last session safely and the completion of all external examinations including WASSCE where 89,072 wrote the examination, NECO SSCE 72,372 candidates, 149,875 for our State BECE and172,867 wrote our State Placement/Screening Tests for Basic 6 pupils. These are noble achievements worthy of commendation.

“The school academic calendar for the 2024/2025 session has been released, every school principal is expected to adhere strictly to the contents therein. Sanctions await any school that fails to abide by the contents of the school calendar, the offence is rare with public schools in the State and I will use this opportunity to mention it again that stiffer sanctions will be meted out to any school operator (public or private) in the state that flout this academic regulations, so also other practices that are alien to good conduct in school administration.

“Again, strong emphasis now should be focused on security consciousness. School administration direction on prompt decision as it concerned security is highly essential. The ongoing recruitment of teaching and the non-teaching staff by both TESCOM and SUBEB will bring more relief for the protection of lives and properties in our schools. The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde
FNSE is highly appreciated for the approval granted the recruitment exercises which had commenced.

“As we begin the 2024/2025 academic session, let us reciprocate the good gesture of the Oyo State Government in terms of regular payment of salaries and other welfare packages and dedicate ourselves to duties for better performance of our students.

“All efforts will be put in place in collaboration with security agencies to forestall students’ unrest.

” In conclusion, I hereby show my appreciation to the Executive Chairman TESCOM, Permanent Secretaries (PS/IGEs and PS/TGEs) and all hardworking principals for their steadfastness and loyalty to the State Government.

The State Government will continue to provide a suitable and conducive environment for teaching and learning in our schools for the good performances of our students in academic and co-curricular activities.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Teaching Service Commission, Pastor Akin Alamu, tasked principals to instill discipline in their students.

The Chairman, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Haroon Lawal ,urged principals to reciprocate the good gesture of the governor, who has been paying their salaries as and when due and regular payment of grants to schools.

The meeting had in attendance the President ANCOPS, Directors from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Principals and a host of others.