Delta Longest Serving PS Bows Out,Shares Experiences

By Onomiguren Agbamu

Outgoing Permanent Secretary in the Delta State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Austin Oghoro has revealed that private school owners in the state charge over five hundred percent of exams levies that the government approves for examination at any level.

Mr. Oghoro who until his retirement also served as PS in the ministry of agriculture and natural resources on two separate occasions, spoke to a team of newsmen in his office on a wide range of issues including his experiences as the longest serving permanent secretary for 17 years in Delta State civil service.

He berated greedy private school owners for over tasking parents unnecessarily not minding the tough economic realities, alleging that they take advantage of every opportunity to exploit parents.

He said,”The fees that private school owners charge for any level of exams registration exceeds five hundred percent of what the state government asks them to pay.

“The same people will rush to the press to say put it in the news that government is asking for money for exams registration. We have been calling them for series of meetings. “

“The issue is that private school owners fix their exams registration fee without recourse to the government. They don’t even have recourse to PTA in their schools. The federal government does its own; the small one that state government dies , they will be screaming: you want to kill us. Politicizing it.”

Mr. Oghoro who was reacting to a publication where some private school owners were complaining over increase in exams registration levies by the Delta State Government, described such publication as not being fair to government.

He stated further, ”Private school owners fix their school fees, fix their exam fees; we see them. So, for the fact that you as a parent has taken your child there, you have to pay.

“We need to be fair and circumspect. Sadly, many of the private school owners don’t give value for the money they collect. Just go round private schools in the state. Many don’t have qualified teachers. In education, government allows PPP.”

“ There are some areas where there are no public schools. In such situations, you approach the government to set up a private school, we give necessary conditions for approval, but if you cannot meet the conditions, the government gives a time frame within which to fulfill the conditions as part of measures to ensure standard and quality in education.”

While reflecting on his role as permanent secretary in the education sector, Mr. Oghoro said it had not been easy . ”We as public managers in the education sector, we stand on trial every day. It’s a very pitiable situation. We signed to do the job , and we prayed to God to guide us.”

”My experience has been something personal to me because I tried to mind my business. Yes, it’s been momentous journey , challenges, prospects, and of course, benefits.”

“I got the job in civil service by the grace of God because of the large number of unemployed graduates at that time. I dedicated my letter of employment to God to see me through.”

“All along, I was driven by the principles of sincerity and passion for the job. It’s a disservice to allow anybody to beg for what he or she is entitled to or deserve”.

“I advise civil servants to enjoy the work they have been employed to do, and trust God to see them through. I have put in 35 years of service, and April 1 this year is the terminal date , and April 2 is my pulling out ceremony. So, I have achieved so much by way of competence in the service,” stated Oghoro.