Posted by By Kazeem Ugbodaga on
Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos state has banned the use of public primary and secondary schools in the state for part-time programmes by universities and polytechnics in the country.
Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos state has banned the use of public primary and secondary schools in the state for part-time programmes by universities and polytechnics in the country.
Several institutions, such as the Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State Polytechnic, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, National Teachers' Institute (NTI) and several other higher institutions, operating satellite campuses in Lagos, make use of public schools to run their programmes.
Fashola has ordered them to close shop and look elsewhere to run their programmes. 'No more part-time studies in our public schools as they cause a lot of damage to our furniture and faciliteis,' says Lagos state deputy governor, Princess Sarah Sosan, who conveyed Fashola's order to newsmen.
'It has been observed that the part-time students vandalise properties in schools and the governor has directed that the use of the state's schools by part-time institutions are hereby cancelled.
'A taskforce is being set up to check the usage of the schools either for parties, religious activities and part-time studies. To use the schools, permission should be sought from the specified authorities,' she stated.
The deputy governor, who met with all headteachers in Lagos state on the issue, explained that the state government had spent so much to ensure free and qualitative education and warned that saboteurs of government policy would be severely punished.
Sosan also threatened to dismiss any headteacher found flouting government's directive on the issue. She disclosed that headteachers would henceforth be held responsible for any misconduct, particularly the general appearance of students.
Sosan further threatened to query any Education Secretary for any act of negligence and misconduct and urged them to take their jobs seriously by monitoring the schools efficiently. The deputy governor called on Parents-Teachers Associations (PTAs) to desist from collaborating with headteachers to collect illegal fees.
'Government will welcome all necessary support they are willing to give, but they should ensure that they supply quality furniture rather than using the school as a dumping ground for inferior quality.
'This is the last time the state government is sending out a warning to all teachers and headteachers on the collection of illegal fees.
'They should not, under any circumstances, sell free textbooks supplied by the state to pupils. No teacher/headteacher should henceforth help publishers sell their books because any defaulter will be severely punished, not minding the years of service to the state,' she warned.