TESCOM & SUBEB RECRUITMENT, NEED FOR STAKEHOLDERS TO RESCUE IBARAPA BASIC EDUCATION FROM ROTTEN -TAYO AKINYEMI

We used to listen to how our nonagarian and above Parents tilled, hoe and conquered basic Education in their days to become successful, relevant and explore in the evergreen stories of an established Ibarapa in the early 30s and late 80s.

We read so much, how communal efforts liberated most Ibarapa personalities through financial contributions for scholarships (apology to my Elders). O YES! I read about the “Educated Young Elements” which later became “Igboora Progressive Union” conceived in 1938, several personalities benefited from the legacy coupled with several Education infrastructures and monuments in the present day Igboora. Apology to other Ibarapa towns.

History will not forget soon, beneficiaries of the late Chief Olasupo Adegoke, late Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin etc Scholarship and employment opportunities; this if not, how realistic could our present situation be? (apology to my Elder recipients).

We are aware how the Obafemi Awolowo and Bola Ige free education librated 90% of the current highly placed personalities in Ibarapa region. Infact, that was the brainbox of 80% success secret of the current leadership in Nigeria. They all climbed the ladder up, and cut it half way.

I can not mention enough, contributions of our Heroes and Heroines who have sacrificed and paid prices towards Education advancement in Ibarapa region. We have amongst them Educationists, Principals, Headteachers and Teachers of Teachers, who have worked diligently to make the current Ibarapa leadership.

I remember a sad day, when some of these Heroes paid death price on their way to an education summit sometimes in 1986. My late father’s closed friends and School Principals : Late Mr. Dejo Akinlabi, Late Mr. Gboyega Ayoade and one other personality lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident. Can’t we immortalise these precious souls by redeeming the quality of education in Ibarapa region?

The last recruitment exercise conducted by the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) saw 95% failure rate credited to Ibarapa applicants. All these as result of sub-standard Education due to leadership in-efficiency.

Aftermath of the TESCOM 2020 recruitment withnessed 98% of teachers posted to Ibarapa region returning back to Ibadan, their homestead, leaving most of our secondary schools in Ibarapa without qualified teachers.

Currently, the Oyo State Government’s effort in Education enhancement is more or less, no effect on Secondary and Primary schools in Ibarapa region as 80% of teachers are funded through Parents Teacher’s purse. What is now the essence of Public Education when Parents still carries the major burden?

The SUBEB recruitment exercise started with aptitude test situated still far away in Ibadan the state capital. Prior to the test date, individuals and Community association ( Ayete Progressive Union) made a compassionate appeal to the Oyo State Government to zone CBT centers to Ibarapa axis, this to avail individual applicants from Ibarapa the opportunity of participating in the process due to the current economic hardships leveraging the country. Alas! this could definitely rescued our schools from lack of quality teachers as indigenes will be posted to our schools.

Unfortunately, no single political office holder in Ibarapa saw this as gemaine, but a patriotic God fearing personality from Ibadan, Chief Jubril Sanusi yielded to the cry in his own ability. He approved a 18 seater bus for Ibarapa running for 3days. The initiative might be meagre, but it goes a long way as it lighten the hopes of the beneficiaries. (“Die to ninu nkan oni nkan”). Our gratitude to Chief Jubril Sanusi, the Chairman Ilaji Resorts.

Apart from the few individuals that are capable of spending #10,000 – #15,000 transportation fare from Ibarapa and the JDS Bus, no single personality nor Political office holder was able to sponsor any of these poor applicants. This bad attitude sensed another doom to primary Education in Ibarapa region.

The Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) recruitment exercise to select 7,500 teachers and 3000 non-teaching staffs into secondary school will be another opportunity to equip secondary schools in Ibarapa region; this is another opportunity only if the stakeholders (Political office holders, Traditional rulers and Opinion leaders) as a matter of importance and urgency work on the following actions:

1. Work out modalities to appeal with the Oyo State Governor, H.E, Eng. Seyi Makinde to fully implement the policy of quota system (grading pattern inclusive) in the employment/deployment procedure and ensure Ibarapa applicants are posted to their local government of origin.

2. Our politicians:

i. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, Speaker Oyo State House of Assembly.

ii. Hon. Dr. Bayo Adepoju, Member representing the Ibarapa Central and North federal constituency.

iii. Hon. Remi Oseni, Member representing Ido/Ibarapa East federal constituency.

iv. Hon. Ademola Obafemi Ojo, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy matters.

v. Hon. Wasilat Adegoke, Commissioner for Youth and Sports.

vi. The 3 Local Government Chairmen in Ibarapa region.

Should please!!! Rescue Ibarapa applicants through a subsidised or sponsored transportation to the CBT center. This will avail them the previlege of participating in the exercise considering the current economic situation in the country. Who knows, the best teacher might be part of this poor applicants?

3. The stakeholders (as 1), should work with other zones on how CBT Centers can be approved by the Oyo State Government in other zones apart from Ibadan for subsequent exercise.

On a closing note, I urge our applicants to showcase their possible best, to earn excellent grades in the examination, this will not only pave for their shortlisting, but also assist relevant individuals actors.

Alhaji (Prince) Tayo Akinyemi.