By Gafar Alabi,

The Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has assured the 20 Board Chairmen of Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) of continued support, while emphasising the need for stronger collaboration with Education Secretaries to enhance service delivery.

Chairman of the Board, Evangelist Olalekan Ifede, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the LGEA Board Chairmen to his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He commended their dedication and grassroots efforts, noting that their contributions remained critical to the growth and development of basic education in the State, revealing that challenges confronting their respective offices would be thoroughly reviewed and forwarded to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.

The SUBEB Chairman disclosed that steps were already being taken to fast-track issues brought before the Board. He further directed that statutory meetings at the LGEAs must be held four times annually, in line with the law establishing their offices.

Emphasising the importance of quality education delivery, Evang. Ifede urged the Chairmen to intensify efforts toward improving teaching and learning standards in schools to ensure that learners could read, write and communicate effectively.

He assured them that the Board would continue to carry them along in decision-making processes affecting the education sector, while charging the Chairmen to encourage parents to support their wards by providing necessary learning materials, particularly books.

Reiterating the government’s policy on free basic education, Ifede stressed that no head-teacher should collect any fees and that under no circumstances should a learner be sent home due to inability to pay any fee.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Board Chairman of Abeokuta South LGEA, Mr. Mohammed Oyeneye, called for stronger collaboration between Board Chairmen and Education Secretaries.

He emphasised that Board Chairmen should be fully involved in supervisory and administrative matters of the LGEAs and carried along in all education-related activities.

Oyeneye also appealed to the Board for an increment in the remuneration of Board Chairmen and greater recognition at the zonal level. He further suggested that periodic seminars be held where the duties and responsibilities of each member would be clearly defined to enhance efficiency and effective service delivery.