Two reasons Oyo parents must now pay for their children’s education
The days of free education are over in Oyo state, at the secondary school level at least.
“This is as a result of poor financial status of the state government, coupled with the lackadaisical attitude of parents and students to the promotion of quality education,” the government’s head of service Soji Eniade has said.
This means the state believes its policy of paying for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) registration fees for students is producing a negative reaction from parents.
Parents no longer value the education of their children because they pay nothing for it, the government is suggesting.
Aside that, the government said its free education policy is running its accounts dry.
Therefore, “the government also introduced payment of N3,000 by all students on annual basis as Education Development Levy,” Eniada said in the statement titled: “Efforts of Oyo State Government to Address Poor Performance of Students in Public Secondary Schools.”
“The payment will be made in three equal installments of N1, 000 per term; the fund gathered will be utilised to complement government’s effort to improve infrastructure in public secondary schools,” he said.
He said students will also be required to show up in school at least 80 per cent of the time.
“This will go a long way to bring a halt to truancy among students and prevent social ills within and outside schools’ premises,” he said.
The policy will take effect from the 2015-2016 academic session, he said.
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