When the Oyo state government launched its Education Trust Fund known as OYO ETF recently to assist the state to source for funds in order to improve the quality and delivery of education in the state, many felt it was a scheme that is one too many. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE explores the approach of the ETF that differentiates it from other schemes and how holistic it is in approach.
The drop in standard of education especially in public schools had been a source of concern to many people in many states across Nigeria and stakeholders had called for an overhaul of the academic system across the country.
And in Oyo state, there had been diverse efforts to make the required change as the government traded its system of educational management to a newer model after series of high powered deliberation of strong minds within the state to seek ways of reviving the almost comatose educational sector and also bridge the seeming communication gap between stakeholders in the sector to ensure that pupils do not suffer the back lash of failure within the system.
The various meetings and rubbing of minds finally gave birth to the Schools Governing Board that is for the purpose of restructuring the education system to bring improvement to the educational Sector in the State and pave way for the excellent performance of students in both internal and external examinations as well as instilling good character in them.
This initiative was to allow the participation of public and private sector in the management of the 628 Schools in all the nooks and crannies of the state and enhance the efficiency and dexterity of teachers and academic performance of the students. But few months after the take off of the SGB, the government in furtherance of its vision of restoring academic excellence in Oyo state came forward with another initiative, the Education Trust Fund known as OYO ETF which is expected to be an all encompassing agency of educational reform.
The Oyo EFT, established by law enacted by the Oyo State House of Assembly, in addition to arresting the infrastructural decay of Schools and give room for more commitment of teachers as well as positive attitudinal change of the students towards their academic pursuit has a wider range of responsibilities which stands it out from other agencies with similar roles. It was established with the aim of assisting the state in sourcing for and pooling funds together from government, non- governmental organisations, individuals, stakeholders as well as the general citizens of Oyo State, home and abroad to improve the quality and delivery of educational services in Oyo State.
The primary function of ETF is to transform the quality of education at all levels in the state through the provision of educational facilities thereby raising its standard; provide finance to supplement the provision of education at all levels by government, ensure successful completion of intervention projects and form a viable as well as enduring partnership with other relevant stakeholders, promote cutting-edge technologies, ideas and organisational skills in education, ensure that projects are forward- looking as well as responding to present needs and ensure accountability and transparency in all its undertakings and dealings.
OYO ETF is expected to get fund from an amount of money equivalent to five percent on the prevailing rate of Value Added Tax accruing to the state and local government, such other money as may be appropriated by the House for the fund, one per cent of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of public Institutions in the state as captured in the fiscal budget, grants, donations (particularly from CSR) as well as Gifts and other voluntary contributions to the fund and one per cent of fees paid by each of the students in private institutions among other sources.
Many have however argued that the scheme is a duplication of previous efforts that are already on ground and yielding good results but the agency in defense has stated that the scheme is a more holistic approach and all encompassing approach to arrest of educational decay as it has a wider range of assignments that the others and is like an umbrella body for other agencies, adding that they will collaborate with all other relevant agencies to avoid duplication of efforts.
The assignments before the scheme include construction and renovation of physical facilities – perimeter fencing, blocks of classrooms, science laboratories, workshops, toilet facilities, libraries and dilapidated school buildings, provision of the facilities like information and communication technology, standard science equipment, students’ and teachers’ sets of furniture, sporting equipment, teaching and learning materials for inclusive education, school vans to convey students to and from the venues of educational activities and competitions as well as capacity building for teachers and students among others.
Another aspect is the award of scholarship for indigent but brilliant students and support in form of vehicles to enhance quality monitoring and supervision of schools. And to prove its commitment, the OYO ETF presently being managed under the chairmanship of Chief Mrs. Nike Akande at its inauguration recently, gave out awards to some students.
Awards were given to the best student in WASSCE in public school in the state, Miss Akindele Oluwabukola Oyeyemi of Olivet High School, Oyo, the best student in WASSCE in private school;Â Miss Irabor Isabelle Gelegu form Oritamefa Baptist School while they were awarded scholarship and free admission into Technical University. The best and second best student in WASSCE in Nigeria, Miss Irabor Isabelle Gelegu and Master Adekunle Oluwatoni Adedigba of Oritamefa Baptist Model School, who scored A1 parallel in all subjects And Miss Akindele Oluwabukola Oyeyemi of Olivet Baptist School, Best student from public school in WASSCE 2017 got these honours.
Also to reiterate that it is the parent body, the best School Governing Board also got honoured by the ETF; the GCI SGB was given the best for having committed about N125m to rehabilitate the school. The Best Supporting Company, Secondary School went to NAMPAK and Best Supporting Company, Higher Institutions went to BOVAS
Indeed, eminent personalities and corporate organisations including traditional rulers, captains of industries, philanthropists and the political class who graced the inauguration expressed their joy and donated handsomely towards the Oyo State Education Trust Fund as a result of their belief in Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s faith that the State’s ETF would go a long way in restoring the education legacy of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
And with the array of assignments given to it and the experience of the chairman, people are watching to see how holistic the approach of OYO ETF will be to the education sector in the state.