Gov. Oyetola Gives Reasons Aregbesola’s Education Policies Was Reversed

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun has given reasons why he returned the 6-3-3-4 education policy to the state and abolished the single uniform policy immediately on assumption of office in 2018.

The governor disclosed the reasons in Abuja. He explained that his decision was based on the overwhelming demand of the people of the state who called for the reversal of the 4-5-3-4 policy introduced by the immediate past government of Rauf Aregbesola.

The governor said that there were indications that the policies were not in tune with what parents and students in the state desired at the time.

He also revealed that the previous policies, according to security reports, were encouraging cultism and other social vices among students in the state.

Oyetola added that the abolition of the policies was part of the recommendations of a committee of experts set up to review the initiatives in the state’s education sector.

On the 4-5-3-4, Oyetola said the policy did not align with the National Policy on Education such that most development partners and agencies refused to support the state on educational projects.

“The National Policy on Education is 6-3-3-4, ordinarily every state should align with the national policy as the minimum standard for education.

“Again, some of the donor agencies particularly UNICEF refused to support us on our educational activities because we did not align with the national policy.

“Meanwhile, the major reason for the 4-5-3-4 was actually because of the introduction of the school feeding programme. The programme will take care of pupils in classes one to three, and four and five will not be happy if they are not eating.

 “I believe that could have been taken care of administratively. It shouldn’t have affected the classification of the school system in the state,’’ he said.

The governor, who admitted that the previous policy caused some setbacks for the education sector in the state, cited the inability of pupils in the state to enroll for primary school leaving certificate examination as a result.