Open Letter To The Governor Of Osun State: Declare A State Of Emergency In Education -By Jacob Olaoluwa Sule

His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke,
Governor, Osun State
Governor’s Office, Osogbo

“Governor Adeleke, Your Roads Are Smooth—But Osun’s Education Is in Ruins!”

Your Excellency, let me begin by commending your administration’s commendable strides in infrastructural development across Osun State. Your tireless commitment to road construction, revitalizing the primary healthcare sector, and other impactful projects have brought much-needed relief to our people. You have proven that leadership is about action, and for that, you have our gratitude.

Your Excellency, I write this letter with deep concern for the state of education in Osun State. it is disheartening that education which has been largely regarded as the bedrock of any progressive society has been left in disarray in our dear state. Your Excellency, the education sector under your administration is failing at an alarming rate, and the silence from the government is deafening. Therefore, it is imperative that the same energy and urgency you have deployed in infrastructural development be applied to revitalizing the education sector.

Your Excellency, our schools are in crisis and unfortunately the quality of education in Osun State has plummeted to an alarming level with damning statistics. Osun, a state with 1,340 primary schools (693 in rural communities and 647 in urban areas) and 387 secondary schools, continues to lag in educational development compared to states like Lagos and Anambra, which consistently rank at the top in WAEC and NECO results from 2019 till date. The stark reality is that our children are being left behind, and urgent intervention is needed. The academic performance of Osun State students in national examinations has experienced a significant decline in recent years. In 2016, the state ranked 29th out of 36 states in WAEC performance. By 2018, Osun State achieved its best result, ranking 7th nationally. However, in 2019, the state’s performance dropped to 14th, followed by a further decline to 34th position in 2020. In 2021, Osun State ranked last (36th), with only 32.6% of public-school students obtaining five credits, including Mathematics and English.

This is an indictment of the leadership in the Ministry of Education, SUBEB and TESCOM which has demonstrated neither foresight nor direction. I challenge you to call for better policy coordination between the agencies to reposition education in our dear state. In August 2023, the Osun State Government hosted an Education Summit from the 22nd to the 24th, promising sweeping reforms to salvage our declining education sector. However, one year later, there is little to no evidence that the resolutions from that summit have been implemented. What has the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Dipo Eluwole, done with the recommendations? Where is the roadmap for improvement? The silence from the government on education is deafening, and Osun cannot afford to continue this trajectory.

Osun State boasts of 13 universities, yet it is not a hub for research and academic excellence. This is a travesty that must be corrected. Education should be the cornerstone of development in Osun, yet the Ministry of Education under the current Commissioner has failed to provide the leadership required to steer our institutions toward global competitiveness. For this reason, I urge a review of the current leadership in the Ministry of Education. Osun deserves a Commissioner for Education who recognizes the need for urgent reform and has the necessary skills and vision to implement effective changes.

Your Excellency, while I acknowledge your efforts in recruiting new teachers, I understand that the recruitment exercise began as far back as February 15, 2024, when call for applications were launched. I urge you to keep in mind that this recruitment process must be fair, transparent, and based on merit. The recruitment of teachers must not be hijacked by political interests. Only qualified, passionate, and dedicated educators should be employed to teach our children. Anything short of this would further deteriorate the already fragile education system in Osun.

Your Excellency, the children of Osun deserve better. The same determination with which you are constructing roads must be used to fix our schools. I demand that you declare a state of emergency in education immediately. Schools must be rehabilitated, teacher training must be prioritized, and learning conditions must be improved. Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, and failure to act decisively will cost future generations dearly.

Human development through education is crucial as it empowers individuals, enhances their capabilities, and equips them with the skills necessary to contribute meaningfully to society and the economy. Education fosters critical thinking, innovation, and socio-economic mobility, ultimately reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development. To improve the quality of education in Osun State, Your Excellency, the government must prioritize teacher training and professional development to ensure educators are equipped with modern teaching methods. Additionally, schools must be rehabilitated and equipped with adequate learning resources, while educational policies should emphasize inclusivity, access, and accountability to ensure all children benefit from quality education.

Your Excellency, I do not appreciate the silence of your government on education, and I implore you to take decisive action because Osun cannot afford to continue this downward trajectory. If we are to truly “get it right”, the time to act is now. Prioritize education. Implement meaningful reforms before further damage is done. I urge you to prioritize the future of our children and take immediate and decisive action now.

Osun deserves better, and we look to you, Governor Ademola Adeleke, to make it happen.

Osun can and must do better.

Best Regards,

Jacob Olaoluwa Sule

Jacob.olaoluwa@gmail.com