Re: Oyo Privatisation of schools: Time to make common sense

The Oyo state government shocked the country recently with its intention to privatise public schools in the State. 
Considering the public outcry that accompanied the announcement and the governor's position on the inevitability of the policy, the die is cast between the government, the state chapters of Labour and Teachers' Unions. No doubt, this policy brought with it a sense of great disbelief among critical stake holders in the educational sector. 

Much of that initial indignation came largely from those who were shocked that Senator Isiaka Ajimobi was willing to sell off public schools, a system that produced him. This anti-people policy which started as a thought may quickly turn to the potential fate that will befall most indigent pupils and secondary school students if those that matter keep quiet about it. Consequently, this is why the action embarked upon by the unions, so far, is most commendable, in my opinion.

There is no better way to articulate a bad policy. No matter how hard the government tries, a Fish will never fly. A bad policy has no other name. Blame the opposition, tarnished the names of whoever, distort history, spread lies as much as you can, it won't change anything.
The people can see through the many subterfuges of the Ajimobi led APC government. The opposition has nothing to do with the current travails of the government, on the contrary, it is self inflicted because the policy is devoid of common sense. If the governor is seeking whom to point accusing fingers at or cast aspersions on,he should look in the mirror.
It is most unfortunate that at this time in the history of Oyo state when all hands should be on deck to move education to the next level, the government came up with a policy bereft of critical thinking and analyses. While in most states of the federation efforts are geared towards providing education for all, Senator Isiaka Ajimobi is striving to provide for few. 
It is a truism that once our citizens are educated, they have a future and it is this future that will birth a decent, safer Oyo state and by extension a secured Nigeria. Why the Governor will not understand this beats ones imagination. He fortunately has an opportunity to do away with this policy and heed the advise of the people who just want common sense to prevail.
An adage amongst the Yoruba's says " Orisa bi o legbe mi se mi bo se ba mi" ( if a diety cannot improve my life, it shouldn't make it worse". If Senator Isiaka Ajimobi cannot improve on the educational legacies of late chief Obafemi Awolowo, late Chief Bola Ige and Senator Rashidi Ladoja, he, by all means, should not make it worse.
Oyo state, in today's ranking, cannot be listed among the top 10 states educationally. Implementing this policy will not only serve to further lower the state's ranking, it will also increase the number of school drop outs.  It is gratifying to note, however, that the state governor has asked to be forgiven for the manner with which the policy was announced. I advise he goes a step further to  apologise for even considering such an outlandish idea in the first place. 
Of course, the promoters of this system failed to see what effects this hideous policy would have on the already impoverished people of the state. School fees will be introduced (even though they preached free education during the last campaigns), teachers whose schools are privatised may lose their jobs or are retained on a lowered salaries ( even though the government says otherwise).
What happens to those who have put in long years of service ? What will happen to majority of the kids whose parents would not be able afford the fees that will be introduced by these new owners who could be profiteers?
The government is blaming the rejection of the policy, as expressed through street protests, on the opposition parties in the state. This attitude is merely insulting the intelligence of the people. It infers that the people, on their own, cannot discern the implications that the implementation of the policy will engender. 
As it is now, public school enrolment is dwindling in the state as more and more kids are denied education because of the harsh economic realities. To pursue this dastardly policy will only make a bad matter worse. 
I counsel the prospective buyers to expend their funds on alternative investments as the present Governor will not be there forever. Government goes and government comes, policies change. There will be another king who will take the education of his people serious. Any school taken over now by phantom investors will be reversed. A word, they say, is a enough for the wise.
If the argument by the government that privatising schools will enhance efficiency, I encourage them to look into all the government-owned establishments that are in dire need of effectiveness with a view to introducing the Public Private Partnership (PPP). I suggest the Office of The Governor. That office desperately needs capable minds !
I ask the governor : Which Oyo state does he want ? One which is dominated by proud and educated citizens or one populated by uneducated urbanites ? I implore the state government to rethink this policy. All those who object to this policy, like myself, are not enemies of the government. We are just making common sense. 

Omolere Omoetan is a social commentator resident in Ibadan.