Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate for Oyo State, recently argued that the local public school system cannot surpass its present state of performance. Speaking to the press at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat in Ibadan, Alli stated that educational institutions lack the vital financial support and subventions required for excellence.
Alli highlighted that the state formerly boasted a top-tier educational reputation, evidenced by a 2006 recognition from the Universal Basic Education board. Currently, however, the state has fallen to 27th place in West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results. The candidate identified the reliance on profit-driven consultants for tertiary institutions and the withholding of operational grants as primary causes for this decline. He expressed concern that essential facilities have deteriorated, noting that schools lack funds for basic maintenance like groundskeeping. Alli concluded that without government-provided imprests and adequate subventions, these institutions will continue to underperform.
