SSA ON TECHNICAL EDUCATION LEADS TEAM ON INSPECTION TO STUDY CENTRES, GIVES STRONG WARNING ON SUBSTANDARD DELIVERY
In line with its statutory responsibility to regulate the operations of professional training institutions within the State, including their study centres, the Ondo State Government, through the Board for Adult, Technical and Vocational Education (BATVE), has issued a stern warning to institutions operating satellite campuses to strictly comply with laid-down guidelines or face sanctions.
This forewarning was issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical and Vocational Education, Ogbeni Tayo Oluyi, who led a high-level inspection team to some private and public schools, operating satellite campuses within the State.
Briefing the administrators, Ogbeni Oluyi expressed the State Government’s concern about maintaining uniform educational standards and effectively delivering academic programmes to prevent low academic standards.
He explained that the Ondo State Government, through the Civil Service Commission, expressed concern over the quality of graduates produced by satellite campuses.
He said the concerns led to the inspection visit, aimed at ensuring that graduates from such campuses are able to defend their certificates and offer problem-solving abilities needed by employers.
The SSA emphasized that the Board is mandated to ensure that any institution seeking to operate satellite campuses in the state does so while maintaining high standards and relevant professional expertise.
Ogbeni Tayo Oluyi reiterated the State Government’s commitment to educational institutions’ adherence to operational guidelines and restoring quality curriculum standards to improve educational benchmarks in the State.
He charged the administrators to comply with the regulations, saying that the state government is not only concerned with the aesthetics of the facilities but the quality of tutors and documentation guiding their operations.
In an earlier meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Board, Mr. Olusiji Olatunji, charged the team to focus on major issues, hinting that he had assured the Civil Service Commission that the Board would review the operational details of the Study Centres and allow only those who met the guidelines for standard practice to operate in the State.
Addressing the team, the Director of Continuing Education (BATVE), Dr. Michael Obaya, noted that the outcome of the assessment would play a crucial role in determining the success of the Government’s education agenda.
Giving enlightenment, Dr. Obaya described satellite study centres as any affiliate outreach that operates outside its main campus, emphasizing that the Board also cascades the regulatory and accreditation functions as the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
He explained further that the essence of inspection was to determine the suitability of institutions that have applied to the State Government to operate as a study centre in affiliation to the main campus. He stated that some were permitted to use public facilities on two accounts; that the Accounting Officer of such MDA gives consent and that it must not jeopardize the primary interest of the facility to be used.
He recalled that earlier this year, the Ondo State Civil Service Commission set up an investigative panel to look into concerns about the quality of graduates from satellite campuses. Following that, the Commission recently directed the Board to conduct a comprehensive status report on all study centres across the state, to determine which centres are operational, which ones are failing to meet standards, and which should be closed down. “Your recommendations would guide the State Government,” he said.
Dr. Obaya enumerated that the team comprised the Ministry of Lands and Housing (Public Building Department) to oversee the quality of the buildings; the Ministry of Education to connect findings with the National Council on Education decisions; the Hospital Services Department of the Ministry of Health to oversee health and safety of the environment; the Ministry of Works (Fire Services Department) to inspect safety standards and fire prevention occurrences; the Office of Establishments (Training Department), which determines matters on certifications and recruitment which are forwarded to the National Council on Establishment (NCE), the Liberal Education Officer and desk officers.
Head of Training (Office of Establishments), Mr. Lanre Amuda, while commending their efforts, said it was necessary for the schools to make proper documentation and forward it to the Office of Establishments to avoid impersonation.
He also encouraged them to work in synergy by allowing the office of Establishments to undertake periodic assessments to ascertain the efficiency of the programs being offered. Mr. Amuda, stressed that the visit was not to witch-hunt, but rather to ensure effective operations and ensure sustainability even as they complement the effort of the State Government.
The schools visited by the team were: Awaiting Educational Consult in collaboration with Olekamba College of Education at Ijapo High School, Akure affillated with Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA); Elibest College of Education and Health Sciences, affiliated with Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, St Augustine Consult as a Distance / E-learning Centre of Wesley University among others and they were conducted around to assess the classroom blocks, toilet facilities, structural composure and design, sick bay, ICT facilities and fire safety materials.
In attendance: (Tertiary Coordinating Unit, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology), Mrs. Joan Obademi; (Ministry of Health), Mrs. Isijola Oluyemisi; (Ministry of Works and Infrastructure), Mr. Obayopo; Builder Adeloye; (Ministry of Lands & Housing), Mr. Akinjogula; (BATVE), Mrs. Oloruntoba; Zonal Continuing Education Officer, Mr. Bamgbose; (Entrepreneurship Unit), Alhaja Akinkunmi.
Debbie Funmilayo
Information Officer
Board for Adult, Technical and Vocational Education
