The education sector in Osun requires urgent reforms to move forward, Governor Ademola Adeleke said in Osogbo on Monday.

Presenting instructional materials to students of secondary schools, the governor noted that infrastructures were in bad condition in primary and secondary schools.

He said the three areas that affected learning – the environment, teaching aids and teachers’ welfare – needed urgent reforms.

Mr Adeleke added that the bad conditions were exacerbated by parental economic conditions, the breakdown of family values and increasing law and order challenges.

“The worst side is bad educational policy and lack of political will under the previous administration.

“The result is that Osun is placed 34th or so on the national examination rating index.

“Our administration is determined to change the situation for the better. To that end, we have a comprehensive education sector reform agenda.

“The ultimate goal is to improve the educational rating of Osun from the present 34th position to between 1st and 10th position,’’ Mr Adeleke said.

The governor added that the state government would soon hold a summit where all stakeholders would brainstorm to improve the education system in the state.

He said the government had resolved to improve the learning environment, empower teachers and provide learning aids.

“To that end, the Ministry of Education is directed to clean up and re-open the nine computer centres located in selected schools across the nine federal constituencies.

“The facilities in those centres are rotting away. We must put them to good use for the betterment of our education system,” the governor said.

He blamed the lack of familiarity with computer systems for students’ failure in national examinations.

“Unfortunately, most examinations are now computer-based. Upgrading computer literacy in students is one of the major goals of this administration,’’ Mr Adeleke said.

The governor also said he had directed the Ministry of Education and Science and Technology to study the possibility of introducing computer tablets into secondary schools.

(NAN)