Parents dump private schools for Ogun public flagship schools — Commissioner

Parents are increasingly withdrawing their children from private schools and enrolling them in Ogun State-owned public flagship schools, according to the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Abayomi Arigbabu.

Speaking at a press conference at the ministry’s conference room in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, outlining preparations for the 2026/2027 academic session, Arigbabu revealed that nearly 80 per cent of learners gaining admission into the state’s flagship schools are coming from private primary schools.

He described the trend as a reflection of growing confidence in the quality of education and facilities provided by the government.

Ogun currently maintains 40 senior flagship schools and four combined flagship schools, designed as model institutions to provide quality education across the state.

Admission into these flagship schools is restricted to JSS1, with no provisions made for transfer admissions.

The commissioner noted that this influx demonstrates that parents are beginning to appreciate government investments in the education sector.

To address out-of-school children, the state government has intensified its enrolment campaign, deploying officials to markets and motor parks across the Ijebu, Remo, Yewa, and Egba zones to sensitise parents on the importance of education.

Arigbabu expressed concern that despite the state’s level of development, some young children remain out of school because their parents or guardians lack support systems to take them there.

Regarding examinations, the state released the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results, recording a 96 per cent pass rate. The results were released on Wednesday night ahead of student resumption, maintaining a five-year tradition of timely releases.

The ministry has largely automated the examination process, including the production of Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets and answer booklets, to enhance efficiency, transparency, and credibility.

Ahead of the new academic session, the ministry concluded a three-day stakeholders’ engagement involving parents, old students’ associations, teachers, private school owners, school heads, principals, and security agencies. The discussions focused on quality education, safety, discipline, access, digital transformation, and effective school management.

A total of 1,564 head teachers and 520 secondary school principals participated in the final day of the programme, receiving reminders of their responsibilities and government policies ahead of resumption.
Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), So-Safe Corps, and Amotekun Corps, participated in the sessions to provide security advice to school authorities.

Arigbabu urged school authorities to strengthen access control and risk management, while calling on parents, teachers, and members of the public to report suspicious activities around schools, stressing that protecting learners remains a collective responsibility.

The government has also reviewed school infrastructure ahead of resumption, focusing on classrooms, sanitation, water supply, toilets, furniture, electricity, and the general learning environment.

Arigbabu noted that Governor Dapo Abiodun has paid the state’s counterpart funding up to 2026 under the UK-supported education programme to protect these investments.

Highlighting technological advancements, Arigbabu recalled that Ogun introduced the Learner Identification Number (LIN) system five years ago, a framework the Federal Government has now directed all states to adopt, with Ogun serving as a model implementation state.

He also pointed to OgunLEARN, the state’s artificial intelligence-powered teaching and learning platform, urging teachers to embrace the technology to improve educational outcomes.

Reiterating that the state’s free education policy remains fully operational, the commissioner warned school authorities against imposing unauthorised charges on learners.

He directed school heads to protect students against bullying, abuse, drug-related activities, and violence, while prohibiting corporal punishment in favor of disciplinary measures that respect student dignity and rights.

He further cautioned against examination malpractice, affirming that the government will continue strengthening monitoring and supervision to safeguard examination integrity across the state.