Ogun State Government suspends school levy

As schools in Ogun State resume for another academic calendar, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has ordered the suspension of the N3, 700 education levy.

Abiodun who decried the public outcry generated by the fee, said his administration did not introduce it as it was a proposal by the Parents Teachers Association accepted and implemented by the previous administration.

Abiodun who made this known at one-day stakeholders forum with the theme, “Repositioning Education for Outstanding Performance”, held at the June 12 Cultural Center, Kuto, Abeokuta, said that the fee was approved under the last administration but he was suspending it to make good his promise of free, universal and qualitative education in the state. Abiodun who described the condition of schools in the state as pathetic, said he has restored running costs to all schools as management of the schools have responsibility of keeping them functioning always.

He said his administration has embarked on the rehabilitation of 236 primary and secondary Schools in the state and some of the non-functional model schools would be converted to TechHUB, technical and vocational centres. The governor, while appreciating the students that represented the state at the 2019 Science Teachers Association of Nigeria, Competition, Spelling Bee National quiz and Project competition and the Mathematical Association of Nigeria competition, said that they would offer the students access to the state’s tech hub, give a laptop and cash donation to each of the students.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Olu-Ola Aikulola thanked the governor saying the pupils are reciprocating by winning trophies and accolades at competitions at National and international levels.