The governor said so to increase enrolment and further encourage the government to embark on more upgrades of public schools.
The Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has urged all public school teachers to enrol their children and wards in public schools in the state.
This was stated in a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde, noting that the governor said so to increase enrolment and further encourage the government to embark on more upgrades of public schools.
The statement reads in part: "Undoubtedly, the Ondo State Government under Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has made huge investments in the education sector in the state, especially in Primary and Secondary Schools. Tertiary institutions not excluded. The rot, which pervaded public schools in the state before the Akeredolu administration assumed office is fast disappearing. This has also led to an increase in student enrolment in most of the schools.
"Under the Akeredolu administration, over 800 Public Primary Schools have been reconstructed and renovated with perimeter fences, ICT centers and playgroup equipment. The students now enjoy modern desks and chairs procured by the Akeredolu administration. Besides, Governor Akeredolu recently recruited one thousand, two hundred (1,200) teachers in the Public primary schools.
"It is based on this background that teachers in the public schools were urged on moral grounds to enrol their wards in public schools for confidence building. This will subsequently increase enrolment and further encourage the government to embark on more upgrades of public schools.
"Succinctly, there is no policy or law in Ondo State that forbids anyone in the service of the government, including teachers, from enrolling their wards in any school. However, there is always a place for moral burden. It is, therefore, not an offence for teachers to enrol their wards in any school of their choice. But it will be morally wrong for teachers, who are proud of their works and teachings, to put their wards in a private school.
"Finally, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, will continue to prioritise education and develop it for the overall interest of the people of the state. It is the belief of the Governor that qualitative education is the key to a better tomorrow."
Meanwhile, according to Victor Olabimtan, the Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, "the teachers will henceforth be held accountable for any decline in enrolment in schools.”
The SUBEB chairman condemned in strong terms the attitude of some teachers who are taking their children to private schools.
She earlier said it had become an offence for any public school teacher to take their wards to private schools.
According to a public school teacher who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity, no teachers should be forced to enrol their children in public schools.
"The government cannot force us. It is a matter of choice. And even if the government wants to make it an order, I doubt if it is possible to enforce such," the teacher said.
Another teacher who also spoke to SaharaReporters said, "When I was informed of this by my colleagues this morning, what came to my mind was if the governor and those in government are also ready to enrol their wards in these schools, surely we will heed to their call.
“But if they (those in government) cannot bring their children to public schools, you can't force us (the teachers) to do it."