NANS KNOCKS ABIODUN CLAIMS OF FREE EDUCATION IN OGUN

National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun State chapter, has fault the claims of Governor Dapo Abiodun of running a free education, asking him to allow the payment of Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) levies in public schools within the State.

Governor Abiodun had in 2019 said he was committed to running free education in all public schools in Ogun, stopping the payment of N3,700 which he had earlier approved as PTA donation to schools.

But NANS disagrees with Abiodun, stressing that what the present dispensation is masquerading under mere abolition of PTA levies did not equate free education.

According to a statement signed by the spokesperson of NANS in Ogun, Olufemi Owoeye, it was stated in clear terms that “cancellation of fees alone is not commensurate to free education.”

Owoeye said “NANS Ogun JCC is against the ban placed on payment of dues” and the fact that such is being likened to free education in the State.

He queried who will provide free educational materials, security, conducive environment and other indispensable facilities.

“What we’re seeing is proscription of payments and nothing more,” it was said.

The students further explained that school administrators in Ogun were “battling with unpaid five months running costs,” thereby bringing about the inability of schools to provide basic teaching aids.

To address these challenges, NANS called for “the reintroduction of a regulated Parent-Teachers Association dues,” stating that “even our parents are willing to pay.

“We urge the government to summarily lift ban on payment of Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) dues as it is traditionally a voluntary contribution of parents to offset some financial expenses on behalf of the school,” Owoeye pleaded.

The levies, according to him, were used by schools to pay for security, cut grasses, repair leaking roofs and others.

He told Gov. Abiodun that the current economic realities have shown that government alone could not cater for the academic sector, asking the governor to review his policy on PTA levies in order not to “impoverish” public schools.