The Osun State government on Monday reverted to the old policies on education system.
Rising from its weekly executive council meeting, the Gboyega Oyetola administration considered reverting to the 6-3-3-4 education system, going back to the old nomenclature for which schools were known and reverting to the old school uniform for which each school was using.
The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, who was flanked by his counterpart in Education, Hon. Folorunso Bamisayemi, and the Special Adviser to the governor on education, Hon. Jamiu Olawumi, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the exco meeting said the reversal will take effect from the next academic session.
She said the committee led by Prof. Oluremi Aina; set up to review government education policies had recommended a return to the 6-3-3-4 education system in line with the National Education Policies.
She maintained that the review of the education policies was in line with the demands and yearnings of the people of the state.
Egbemode said the council unanimously agreed that the Opon-Imo, an educational electronic device developed by the immediate past administration of Rauf Aregbesola be sustained and supported by adequate advocacy and relevant stakeholders.
According to her, schools will revert to old nomenclature known as colleges, grammar and high schools instead of elementary, middle and high schools for which they are presently called.
She disclosed that other recommendations that were also adopted by the council was the replacement of Tutors-General and Headmasters-General with Permanent Secretaries.
On school merger, she said the executive council agreed that single schools of male or female now operated as mixed schools will revert to the old order.
She said: “With this regards, letters of attestation would be given to affected students after they have been separated by the Ministry of Education.”
She also said that schools for technical and vocational education will be equipped with all the facilities required, adding that there will be an awareness to change the orientation that students that are not brilliant are meant for technical education.
She said: “This development was an outcome of the recent report of the Extant Education Policy Review Committee set up by government to review the education policies. The decision was taken on Monday during the State Executive Council meeting, after intense deliberations on the committee’s recommendations. So, the council unanimously agreed to all the recommendations of the committee which submitted its report to Governor Gboyega Oyetola by the chairman, Prof. Oluremi Aina.
“The council also approved the early childhood development education which was suspended by the last administration. The council agreed to set up committee to look into the issue of whether to increase or not to increase school fees in order to meet the best global practice.”

By Adesoji Adeniyi