Professor Igbekele Ajibefun ,a dedicated to duty man, goal getter and a man of his words by all standard , is recently facing a lot of crisis in the Education Ministry ranging from unauthorized increment in fees by his lieutenants in both secondary and primary schools in the state , allegation of receiving double salaries , the actions and inactions of the Area Education Officers and hosts of others under the Ministry.
Professor Igbekele Ajibefun has administered and ruled over two different higher institutions in the state , Rufus Giwa Polytechnic ,Owo and Adekunle Ajasin University , Akungba Akoko before becoming the Education Commissioner but the crisis and the stress in the two institutions joined together, seem not to have measured up to what the Commissioner seems to be facing in his current primary place of Assignment as we speak.
Recently about two weeks ago, it was reliably reported by Germane Reporters that, some school Principals in the state collected close to #36,000 from their final year students when the state government claimed that WAEC fee has been paid and that education is free.
The dust about the money was raised by the parents of these students from across the state on a popular current affairs program on Fresh FM 102.9,Akure.
The parents alleged openly on air that they were ready to present receipts of their payments made to different banks through the instruction of the principals which the Ministry was tagged in the scenerio.
The Commissioner was still on his fact- findings on this serious issue during the said week when another bombshell of that of the primary school surfaced.
The primary school own was so critical that, the primary school leaving certificate packaged loaded to the tune of #20,000 from the original government approved #3,000.
The stress of the commissioner and that of the Ministry doubled up and meetings were summoned to unravel the rationale behind these unapproved levies by the school heads.
While going on findings , it was revealed that , some bodies within the Ministry , arranged and stylishly brought in certain fees into what the government did not approve.
Meanwhile , when the issue of the principals were on , the Commissioner was alleged to be taking money from another higher institution of the state ,though that has since been taken care of.
With all these hullabaloo in the Ministry from the Area Education Officers AEOs, School Principals , PTA, Head- Teachers of Primary Schools and other entities of the Ministry, what is the fate of parents who suffered immensely to make both ends meet in paying fees?
Where is the parents place of pride when taxes are paid to government and some individuals or group of individuals also indirectly wanting to take theirs.
Time has come for the Ministry and the state government to wake to the task before the system is bastardized completely beyond repair.
