The Ogun State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Prof Abayomi Arigbabu, on Wednesday, said that 45,000 persons applied for the recently concluded Ogun Teach intern meant to employ 2,000 teachers in the state.

Arigbabu said with the number of applicants, the government will pick only the very best and who by the end of April, will be collecting their letters of engagement.

This is just as the commissioner also warned that education from primary to secondary school remains free in the state and that any headteacher or principal caught violating the policy of the government would be sanctioned.

Arigbabu disclosed this during the second term pre-resumption stakeholders’ meeting for the 2023/2024 academic session held at Lisabi Grammar School, Idi Aba, Abeokuta.

Arigbabu disclosed that since 2022 when the state government devised the stakeholders meeting, it has helped a lot to impact on smooth administration of schools in the state.

He said “When this government came on board, because of the sorry state of things in the education sector, the governor declared a state of emergency in the education sector and this was followed up with massive rehabilitation and construction of more classrooms to enhance conducive learning atmosphere.

“And for the first time after eight years, this government employed 1000 teachers who have just been given permanent employment.

“Another set of 2,000 teachers are about to be employed again under the OgunTeach Intern programme.

“I must tell you that for these 2,000 jobs, we have 45 000 applicants. So we are going to choose the very best from these applicants and by April they will begin to have their letters”.

Arigbabu also reiterated the free education policy of the government explaining that “the state government policy on free education is still in operation, no Principal or Headteacher must collect a dime from the students because this government intends to support every effort to help reduce numbers of out-of-school children.

“So, don’t cry more than the bereaved. You have been employed to support the implementation of government policies, anyone doing otherwise is on his own and will be thoroughly sanctioned”.

Arigbabu said that Gover or Dapo Abiodun has also promised to give 10,000 scholarships to students from primary to tertiary institutions in the state this year saying that this underscored the commitment of the present administration to make education accessible to many more residents of the state.

The commissioner added that the state is already finalising arrangements to hold the first Education Summit by February adding that the summit would further help to x-ray the education sector and look critically at what other things to be done to achieve excellence in the sector.

He said that  Abiodun was concerned about improving the security of the schools in the State and has therefore approved the employment of more security personnel to secure the schools as well as the construction of perimeter fencing.

Arigbabu said as the schools open for the second term of the 2023/2024 academic session on Monday, January 8, the heads of schools in the State must show responsibility and demonstrate leadership, take the school census, update their school portals, take good care of the school environment, be security conscious and operate according to rules and regulations of the state government.