Old students’ association urges Osun govt to renovate school

Old Students’ Association of Ife-Oluwa Grammar School, (IOGS) Osogbo, Osun State, has urged the state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola to quickly renovate dilapidated structures in the school which his administration recently classified as a middle school in its on going reforms in the education sector.
Speaking with newsmen in Osogbo during the activities marking the 50th anniversary of the school, the President of the old students association of the school, Pastor Adesoji Ajibade lamented that the school had deteriorated terribly over the years as a result of total neglect by successive governments after the school was taken over by government in 1975.
He recalled that in the past, the school was one of the best in academic excellence and that the school environment was very beautiful and attractive as the buildings and the lawns were well laid out as a result of which the school attracted students from all parts of the country.
He noted that over the years, the buildings had dilapidated, with  roofs cracked, blown off totally or half way and wondered how the students could successfully settle down to study in most of the dilapidated school buildings.
Ajibade commended the education policy of Aregbesola’s administration and disclosed that the association has plans to contribute to the development in the school.
”We are grateful to the state governor for his intention to renovate the school which we eagerly look forward to. Of course, we are not oblivious of the fact that government cannot do it alone. We have plans for the school but we don’t want our own intervention to clash with that of the state government.
The association condemned the level of indiscipline in some secondary schools in the state and thanked the state government for making efforts to arrest the situation through a committee led by Dr. Isiaka Owoade.
”It is our hope that the committee will assist the government in finding solution to this worrisome menace. Fortunately, no student of Ife-Oluwa Middle School has been reported to be involved in any form of indiscipline or gangsterism.
”We thank God for this and it is significant to note that the current students in the schools have succeeded in sustaining the legacy of good behaviour. And this is the reason why we are appealing to the state government and its Dr. Owoade-led committee to arrest the situation now before other decent students are infected.
”While we commend the education policies of Aregbesola’s administration, it is imperative for us to use this opportunity to appeal to the state government to quickly carry out repairs on the infrastructure of this schools as this is the only way the school can be able to impart knowledge on the students and produce competent future leaders.
”We wish to appeal to the state government to kindly deploy more teachers to the school. We also urge all the teachers who are currently working in the school to be committed and rededicate themselves to the work”, Ajibade said.
He called on former students of the school who have not been partaking in the activities of the old students association of Ife-Oluwa Grammar School to show interest and join hands with others to assist the school.
Twenty-two persons, including the founder of the school, Chief Fadeyi and the former principals of the school were honoured with various awards for their contributions to the school.