By Alaba Adeyemi, Map News Africa
Everywhere in the world, public schools are either cheaper than privately owned schools or completely tuition-free. This is so because public schools are built and maintained with public funds or are grant-aided by the government. Therefore, public schools are almost the only options available to the lower class of society.
In Ondo State, this assumption is not completely true, as parents are taking their children to private schools, which has mushroomed because the admission process for public secondary schools in the state has become expensive and fraught with unexpected variables.
Schools classified as public schools are those financed and maintained by the government from inception and schools built by communities and religious organizations receive grants from the government.
When schools resumed after the long vacation on September 17, 2024, some parents whose children took the 2024 common entrance examination for public secondary schools in Ondo State and received provisional admission were shocked.
The original list approved by the Ministry of Education had been removed and replaced with a new one with many names on the original list.
Ajayi Clement who saw the name of his daughter on the of pupils offered admission into St Louis Girls Grammar School Akure, on Wednesday 13th September, and proceeded to make payments returned on 17th to find out that the list no longer exists.
“ I was here on Wednesday, the second batch list was on the notice board, it contained 157 names and my daughter’s name was number 35. The list came with clear instructions that those whose names are listed should return the following Monday for registration. I didn’t come on Monday(yesterday) but those who came said the principal refused to address them and the list has been taken off, torn into shreds, and replaced with a new one.
“ I came today to confirm it and I saw that the list has been replaced and many names have been replaced “
Another parent also narrated her ordeal.
“We came last week and we saw the name, I have made payments into the designated accounts for desk and chair, uniforms, and others but I am shocked that the list has been removed, destroyed, and replaced.”
A resident of Akure who spoke to this reporter described the situation as disheartening.
“ To get your child admitted into a government secondary school now, especially the big ones, you have to know someone on the inside, give bribes, or pay through your nose to get your child into the school.
“ Many are taking their children to substandard schools because of this,” she lamented.
Cost Of Public Education
Orosundare Abiodun, a resident of Idanre explained why he took his children to a new private secondary school in his community.
“The cost was too high, I had to take my child to a private school where I paid less than 50,000 to get my child into the school while avoiding the almost 120,000 that I would have paid. I simply opted for a cheaper option.
According to the Ondo State Government, the total amount of money expected to be paid by parents is 14,000 Naira for new students and 11,000 Naira for returning once.
A circular signed by the permanent secretary Ondo State Ministry of Education Folasade Adegoke also instructed new students to bring their materials from home. The materials are a hoe, one cutlass, a locker and a chair, a broom, and two file jackets during the registration exercise.
The state Commissioner for Education warned principals of Secondary schools against selling school uniforms and textbooks but Investigation revealed that the majority of principals of secondary schools across the state defiled this order without consequence.
Many of them had designated sellers outside the school gates selling the books and uniforms on their behalf. Failure to buy from designated sellers will lead to forfeiture of the admission.
Almost all the schools visited collected more than the recommended 14,000 Naira for new students.
At Ijapo High School Akure, the total collectibles were N20,300, Adegbola Memorial Grammar School collected N18,500, CAC Grammar School Akure N 19,300, Oyemekun Grammar School, charged N 20,300 and St Louis Girls Grammar School was collecting N17,100 from new JSS1 pupils.
This collection was done without fear of any consequences from the Ministry of Education
Schools’ principals have also formed a racket for selling all the needed items required for admission against the warning of the State Ministry of Education.
Parents are instructed to go to designated sellers to buy the item at almost twice the market price. These items range from textbooks to notebooks, cardigans, cutlasses, brooms, ballpoint, desks and chairs
An OKADA rider at Abusoro junction, Ijoka Road Akure told this Journalist he bought 2 pairs of uniforms for N 23,000 Naira for his daughter who just got admitted into St Michael Catholic High School Akure.
A parent whose child got admitted into Alakunre High School told the reporter that she bought the full set of uniforms from the school. She also bought files, a mathematical set,2 padlocks from a designated seller and had to take passport photographs from a designated photographer.
She also said the school insisted that all textbooks must be bought from the school but unlike many others, the school accepts used textbooks if the pupils have them. Despite all these Alakunre High School is considered one of the most considerate maybe because it’s one of the least sought-after in the metropolis.
Oyemekun Grammar School, one of the most sought after Public schools sold uniforms and cardigans for N 35,000 using a designated shop outside the school on Adinlewa Street.
Neglect
According to an investigation, the Ondo State Government has stopped providing desks and chairs for secondary schools in the state. It’s now standard practice for parents to be asked to buy desks and chairs for their children.
Many schools’ principals now have designated carpenters who supply desks and chairs at cutthroat prices to the parents.
Many public school buildings are in a terrible state because little or no attention is paid to them by the government. It’s with the P.T.A. funds that some of the buildings are kept standing. However, the schools are now charging more than the government-approved P.T.A. levy.
The P.T.A levy has become another form of fund shrouded in secrecy, at Ijapo High School P.T.A Levy is in two categories P.T.A and P.T.A special both cost N5000 while at Adegbola Memorial Grammar School it is N4,000
Out Of School Children
According to the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB Ondo State has 240,000 out-of-school children. With the state having an estimated population of 5.3 million people it implies that about 4.5 persons out of every 100 in Ondo state has no access to education.
Mushrooms Schools
Everywhere in Ondo State mushrooms schools without qualified teachers, libraries, laboratories, sports facilities, and toilet facilities are springing up.
These schools have become the last resort of parents whose children couldn’t get admitted into Public secondary schools due to admission racketeering or the high cost of meeting all the requirements.
These schools are sometimes located in residential flats, local face-me and face-you buildings, and dilapidated buildings.
The poorly remunerated but overworked teachers are paid as low as N20,000 to teach several subjects to different classes. Since these schools do not have what is needed to provide quality education, they end up taking their final year students to special centers ( a name for examination centers where exam malpractices are allowed) where they are assisted to pass the examination.
This report was supported by the Civic Media Lab
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