Ogun State recorded a significant achievement in this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, by producing the highest scorer in the person of Umeh Nkechinyere who scored 360 marks. Umeh Nkechinyere is followed by Ositade Anthony, another student from the state, who scored 358, Also, Aguele Osezuha from Edo State scored 358, while Gbolahan Ayinde another student from Ogun State, scored 357. Others are John Ibhanfiodon (Lagos), 356, Duruji Ugonna (Ogun), 355, Adesanya Oluwajomiloju (Ogun), 355, Shittu Adedunni (Ogun), 355, Afenisumen Oluwagbemisoke (Ogun), 355, Adetunji Adewale (Oyo), 355, Ofonime Idongesit (Rivers), 355 and Imoukhuede Onayeme (Ogun), 355.
Recall that the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration has, since inception, introduced measures to boost the standards of education in the state. The measures include free education policy with cancellation of all forms of levies in public primary and secondary schools, which resulted in an increased enrolment in schools and a decline in out-of-school children. Payment of promotion arrears from 2016 to 2018 was effected, with the promotion of teachers/civil servants due in year 2019 to 2022. The governor also approved the employment of 5,000 Ogun State Teach Experience Acquisition Channel (OgunTEACH) interns to fill the teaching vacancies in primary, secondary, and technical colleges in the state.
In addition, 42 public secondary schools were upgraded and categorized as Flagship Schools in the state for better performance and productivity. Learner Identification Number (LIN), a unique identification number, was allocated to each learner in the state. This is to adequately know the number of learners, monitor their academic progress and educational history, and track their movement for security reasons. Prince Abiodun also approved over 120% increase and regular payment of running cost grant to public primary and secondary schools as well as the production and distribution of 25,000 tables and chairs to the schools. Also introduced was constant monitoring and quality control of teaching and learning processes in public and private primary and secondary schools across the state.
