Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has said the state cannot access over N4 billion from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in Abuja because of the diversion of N850 million by the previous administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi in 2012.
He said the diversion led to the suspension of the state from UBEC activities, leading to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) lacking resources to execute its projects.
He stated this during a meeting with members and leaders of the Ekiti State chapter of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) in Ado-Ekiti.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, on Monday, the governor also said a Parents’ Summit would soon be held in the state to further sensitise parents on their roles in the provision of quality education for their children.
He described parents and teachers as the two most critical stakeholders in the sector.
The governor added that all critical stakeholders in the education sector must be alive to their responsibilities for the gains recorded in the sector by the state to be maintained.
He, however, cautioned private school owners against compromising standards by engaging unqualified cheap labour because they want to record huge profits.
He promised good working relationship between the government and the association, just as he said the state would donate a bus to it.
“We want to work together and sustain the gains we have recorded in recent times. Without you, public schools alone cannot give us the glorious level we have attained now. Quality education is what we need. Ekiti has an identity as the Fountain of Knowledge and it was changed in the past for some reasons and whatever you bear has impact on your life.
“Education is more than social amenities like flyover or others. Through education, we are building character. People will come and build better flyovers when we are gone. In that respect, when we are training public teachers we must carry you along too. It is not your level of education that will make you live an impactful life or impact positively on the lives of other people, but your commitment,” he said.
Fayose charged NAPPS members not give their pupils and students education devoid of good manners, noting that the level of moral decadence in the country was too high.
The governor said he would ensure a regular interactive session with members of the association.
In his speech, Ekiti State Chairman of NAPPS, Alhaji Saka Adeleye, commended Governor Fayose for turning around the sector which led to the state coming first in the recent examinations conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO).
”We will continue to partner with the government to lift education and help the state sustain the glory. We will work hard to do that and improve standards in schools. We will appeal to members to get facilities upgraded in our schools and during the celebration of Teachers’ Day, we want our members to be carried along too. We are happy that the backlog of Primary School Leaving Certificates has been processed and we can now collect for our former pupils,” he said.
