By Ayoola Obadimu,

The Ogun State Government has reiterated its directive that no student in any Public or Private Primary or Secondary School in the State should be made to pay any fee whatsoever for graduation ceremonies, end-of-session parties or valedictory services under any guise.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, reaffirmed this while receiving members of the Grand Union of Private Schools Association (GUPSA) in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He explained that the decision followed widespread complaints and controversies from parents over the imposition of exorbitant charges by some schools for graduation-related activities.

Prof. Arigbabu, stressed that the State Government would not condone any practice that places unnecessary financial burden on parents under the pretext of organising school ceremonies.

Responding to GUPSA’s request for the removal of learners’ photographs from the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) certificate, the Commissioner explained that the inclusion of photographs and Quick Response (QR) codes was introduced to safeguard the credibility of the certificate and curb examination malpractice and other sharp practices.

He also disclosed that the government had put in place measures to strengthen the security of learners and all personnel within school environments, urging proprietors of private schools to complement government’s efforts by paying closer attention to school safety, including the engagement of security personnel where necessary.

The Commissioner commended private school owners for their contributions to the development of education in the State, noting that investment in education should not be driven solely by profit, but by a genuine commitment to shaping the lives of children and upholding the educational standards envisioned by the founding fathers of Ogun State.

Prof. Arigbabu, further revealed that the Ministry was working on modalities for the onboarding of private schools onto the Ogun Learning Enhancement and Academic Resource Network (OgunLEARN) platform.

According to him, this would give private schools access to the State’s digital lesson notes and ensure that learners in both Public and Private schools benefit from the same quality of instructional content.

Earlier in his remarks, the Grand President of GUPSA, Ustadh AbdulAzeez Ajibola, acknowledged the various interventions of the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun in repositioning the education sector.