Former Osun state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has tackled his successor, Gboyega Oyetola, for truncating educational policies he implemented in his tenure.
He said the 4-5-3-4 policy he implemented was designed to highlight the importance of education in society and ensure that no school-age child is denied access to quality education in the Western tradition.
Aregbesola, who spoke at a reception organised by Old Students Association of Akoko Anglican Grammar School, Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State, said the policy, disrupted by former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, had been intended to make public schools more appealing, similar to the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
He emphasised that Awolowo’s strong educational foundation helped to place the old Western Region and its people ahead of other regions in the country. He said: “All governments must know that no matter how attractive private schools may be, they will never displace government-funded public foundation education schools.
“If we really want to provide education to all children and stimulate development from bottom-up, it is a dream we must never give up on.
“I must also mention that schools across Western region, at that time, taught and instilled ethics, social etiquette, morals and leadership, as well as produced great people.
“When I became governor in Osun, I sought to replicate this idea. Our administration built 11 state-of-the-art 3,000 capacity model secondary schools, in addition to rehabilitating and upgrading the existing ones.
“We introduced Opon Imo, the tablet of Knowledge; a digital education tool, ethics and discipline in public schools and even established a statewide agency on public school discipline. We introduced calisthenics, school feeding and health programme.
“Nevertheless, our commitment then was from the understanding that there is no alternative to a sound public foundation education.” Aregbesola, who expressed contentment with his service in various capacities viewing it as a privilege, thanked his old school-mates and alumni of the school for organising a reception in his honour.
