The Ondo State Government has renewed its call on parents to embrace its free education policy by enrolling their children in public schools across the state.
Speaking at the flag-off of the 2025/2026 Academic Session Advocacy Enrollment Drive Campaign in Akure on Friday, the Executive Chairman of the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (ODSUBEB), Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan, said the government has invested heavily in infrastructure and manpower to make public schools more attractive and competitive.
Olabimtan noted that education from kindergarten to senior secondary level remains free in the state, stressing that government schools are equipped with qualified teachers, many of whom are trained in Early Child Care Development Education (ECCDE) and primary education.
“The least qualified teacher in our schools holds a National Certificate in Education (NCE). With the state providing free desks, lockers, instructional materials, and sports equipment, parents have no reason to waste money on private schools,” he said.
He further emphasized that the quality of education in public schools now surpasses that of private institutions, many of which, he claimed, charge exorbitant fees without commensurate value.
The ODSUBEB boss, supported by representatives of UBEC, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Association of Head Teachers of Primary Schools of Nigeria (AOPHSON), Parent-Teacher Associations, NGOs, and market women, urged parents to seize the opportunity to give their children quality education at no cost.
The enrollment campaign, according to the board, will be extended to other parts of the state in the coming weeks.
