By Ade Oyeyemi
The Ondo State Government has inaugurated a task force to enforce compliance with its education data registration directive, warning that private schools that fail to upload their information to the designated portal risk indefinite closure.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, inaugurated the task force following repeated failures by several private schools to comply with the directive despite multiple deadlines, consultative meetings and warnings.
The task force, which comprises security personnel, retired school administrators and education stakeholders, is expected to work with zonal and area education officers to identify defaulting schools and enforce the government’s directive.
Its members include ACP Olawoye Ezekiel, who will serve as chairman; retired Chief Superintendent of Police Wole F. Ogodo; Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, DCC Olakanse Folasade; and retired principals Adeola Akinseloyin and Mary O. Omogunloye.
Other members are media executive Adeniran Obembe, OSEEF Administrative Secretary Dennis Inueborisa, the ministry’s Press Officer, Olabisi Lawani, and the Director of Guidance and Counselling in the ministry, Pastor Lekan Adesida, who will serve as secretary.
Ajibefun warned that schools yet to meet the requirements of the Data of Nigerian Education Management Information System (DNEMIS) would be shut down indefinitely until they complied with the registration directive.
He said the task force would begin inspections across the state, visiting schools to identify those that had failed to register and ensure that the government’s order was implemented.
The commissioner explained that DNEMIS was introduced to improve the collection, management and accessibility of reliable educational data for effective planning, monitoring and decision-making in the sector.
He added that accurate data would help the state improve school infrastructure and ensure the efficient allocation of resources.
Ajibefun urged proprietors and administrators of private schools to comply with the directive, stressing that the exercise was not intended to witch-hunt any institution but to ensure adherence to established guidelines for educational development.
He also advised parents whose children attend schools that may be affected by the enforcement exercise to take note of the development.
