Ekiti government commits N100m to provision of furniture in schools

AS part of efforts to sustain and improve on the state’s rising educational profile in public examinations, the administration of Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State is committing about N100 million to the provision of chairs, tables and other furniture items for the use of pupils, students and teachers in public primary and secondary schools.

This is not because pupils and students are sitting on bare floor to learn as is the case in some states, but to replace the items with more durable and modern ones.

So, it was with joy that students and pupils of All Souls Anglican Secondary School, New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, and SUBEB Model Nursery and Primary School, Afao-Ekiti, together with teachers, parents and other stakeholders welcomed the governor and his team when the flag-off of the exercise took place in the schools.

On why his administration is committing huge resources to the projects despite the financial challenges it is coping with, Fayose said he would never joke with students, teachers and issues relating to the education sector because that is where the strength of his administration lies.

He said he was also aware that children have the right to quality education and that as a responsible government, nothing would be spared in providing this.

“Our policies have transformed the sector, and that is why we have been coming first in public examinations. Our students have the right to good facilities and quality education, and we are providing that. When we were in school,  the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other leaders provided those things for us. It is not a favour that we are doing our children, but it is a great thing for us to do our duty,” he said.

Fayose said no responsible government would ask pupils to bring their own chairs and tables from home, noting that his own children attended public schools in Ekiti.

“I appeal to you to make the best use of these facilities and don’t destroy them. We will cover as many schools as possible. I want us to come first in NECO examination again before I leave office.

“Though we have financial challenge, we will continue to improvise and not allow our young ones sit on the bare floor to learn,” he added.

In his speech, the Commissioner for Education, Mr Jide Egunjobi, said the project was a fulfillment of the promise by the administration to make education better, and added that teachers’ welfare was a priority of the government.

The state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Gbenga Adegbesan, expressed delight at the priority given the education sector by the governor.

“We can’t mention all the good things that Your Excellency has done for teachers, our pupils and students and the sector in general. We thank God that your gesture is not in vain as we can all see the result in the enviable position our state is in now in the comity of states in the federation,” he said.