Ogun sacks top education officials over exam question critical of govt

The Ogun State Government has fired at least six officials of its Ministry of Education over an ‘offensive’ Senior School English language summary passage which formed part of questions set by an examiner.

An examiner, Adegbenro Joel, was alleged to have prepared the English language exams questions for the third term academic session of the State Unified Examination in public secondary schools.

The exam had a summary passage that took a critical look at the alleged negligence of education by government.

The controversial summary passage read, “There is no
arguing about the fact that the government is merely paying lip service to the development of the education. It is true that a lot of money is being spent on education sector but, with little or no impact felt by the people, except where we want to deceive ourselves.

“Many school run by the government which were formally known for academic excellence have suddenly lost their prestige and are living on past glory. No wonder many parents and guardians are threateningly left with only one option, to withdraw their wards from these schools to other ones that are better managed.”

Governor Ibikunle Amosun reportedly got infuriated after his attention was called to the passage, and allegedly ordered the sacking of the officials of the ministry directly in charge of that examination.

Reliable government sources said those fired over the development include an acting Permanent Secretary, Folashade Oresegun; three directors including, Ganiyu Odunsi, and a deputy director, curriculum and evaluation, simply identified as Mr. Majekodunmi.

The examiner, who is a teacher at Mayflower School, was also sacked, our sources said.

Other sources said the dismissal of Messrs Oresegun and Odunsi was later converted to compulsory retirement while the four other affected officials remain dismissed.

When contacted,the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, said he was not competent to comment on the matter.

He said “the issue is a civil service matter, the best person to comment is the state Head of Service. Please call Head of Service”.

But when contacted, the Head of Service, Modupe Adekunle, said “I am aware that not all of them were dismissed, some were terminated, some compulsorily retired.

“When the issue came up, the state government put in the necessary process, a panel was set up to investigate and based on their recommendations, the civil service commission has to decide. It is a decision that has been related to the affected officers.

“The normal process was that a panel was set up, the report forwarded to the Civil Service Commission for the civil servants, the Teaching Service Commission, for the
 teachers.

“The decision was in line with the civil service rule, due process was followed to the latter.”

Source: PREMIUM TIMES