Group: Public Officials’ Children Should Attend Public Schools

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

A pro-democracy group, ‘Kwara Must Change’, has advocated for compulsory for all public officials to enrol their children in public schools in the state.

The group said the gesture would go a long way in returning confidence in the country’s public schools.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin shortly after an advocacy visit to the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Sulaiman Ibrahim, the group coordinator for Gender and Women Affairs, Mrs. Mopelola AbdulMaliq-Bashir said, “It wouldn’t be in the best interest of the public for those who are paid to formulate policies for the smooth running of the state to now distance themselves from the benefits of the policies.”

She added that enrolling their wards in public schools would build public trust in government policies and programmes.

She also used the opportunity to appreciate the present administration on her investment in education.

She singled out for commendation the efforts of the state government in repositioning tertiary education in the state.

She specifically mentioned the renovation of the hall that has been abandoned for close to twenty years and the ongoing renovation of another abandoned hostel project.

In his response, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Ibrahim, thanked the group for being a partner in progress.

Responding to the issues raised by the team, the commissioner said, “There is nothing as rewarding as having the children of every public official in public schools. However, the legal encumbrances must be critically looked into to avoid cutting our nose to spite our face.”