Ekiti Harps On Zero Out-Of-School Children

The Chairman of the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Femi Akinwumi, has reiterated the state government’s commitment to achieving zero out-of-school children status.

Akinwumi said the free and compulsory education policy of Governor Biodun Oyebanji administration, the various infrastructure development projects and the encouragement of teachers were part of efforts to achieve zero out-of-school children.

The SUBEB chairman spoke in Ado Ekiti during the inauguration of new local government branch chairmen of the Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria in Ekiti State.

He solicited more support from the head teachers in ensuring no child was out of school in the state, warning against collection of any illegal fees from the pupils as sanctions awaited violators.

Akinwumi said: “The Oyebanji administration is committed to the free and compulsory education policy of the state government and the efforts to ensure the reduction of out-of-school children to zero. Programmes and policies of the government are in this direction and to improve the quality of teaching and learning outcomes.”

He listed achievements of the Oyebanji administration in the basic education sub-sector including the provision of infrastructures for conducive teaching and learning environment, procurement and distribution of instructional materials to aid learning, regular payment of salaries and allowances, training and retraining of teachers, approval and payment of car/housing loans, elongation of the service of primary school teachers who are university graduates to grade level 16.

Akinwumi appreciated the outgoing local government branch executives of AOPSHON for their contributions to improve the association’s fortunes.

He urged the newly elected chairmen to build upon their predecessors’ legacies for the overall development of the body and basic education in general.

Earlier, the state AOPSHON Chairman, Olusola Ajiborode, hailed the state government for improving the lot of teachers, particularly in making their welfare a priority.