Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Tuesday called on All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) to improve the quality of education.
Aregbesola, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs Titilayo Tomori, made the call in Osogbo at the annual state congress of the association.
He said that principals should complement the efforts of government in improving the standard of education, and urged members of the association to accord education a priority to make it most relevant.
The governor said that principals should inculcate the fear of God, moral and academic excellence into the lives of students, as well as to manage thei staff effectively so as to uplift the glory of Osun.
He said that his administration had paid WAEC fees for all Senior Secondary Schools students in the state, and directed the principals to ensure student attendance.
He noted that majority of the students were engaged in commercial cycling and other business transactions during school hours which, he said, had hindered them from full preparation for examinations, resulting in mass failures.
The governor said that any student whose attendance was below 90 per cent after enrolment for WAEC would not be allowed to sit for that examination.
According to him, the policy will reduce truancy and mass failure in schools.
He gave the assurance that government would continuously support the association in improving the standard of education and restoration of sanity in schools.
He said also that government was ready to make teachers’ jobs satisfactory through improved programmes and benefits.
Earlier, Mrs Modupe Olagunju, the president of ANCOPSS in the state, commended the governor for fulfilling his free education promise at both primary and secondary school levels.
Olagunju added that the current administration had committed itself to regular payment of teachers’ salaries and allowances, construction of new buildings and renovation of existing classrooms.
She noted that the state government had elevated three notable colleagues to the status of permanent secretary, and sponsored 14 principals to the African Convention of Principals in Tanzania.
She appealed to state government to provide buses to ease teachers’ transportation problems and for monitoring schools.
She also called for the employment of typists/computer operators, account clerks among others in schools. (NAN)