Oyo State: Stakeholders Charge Election Candidates With Education Sector Transformation
Olubunmi Osoteku, Ibadan.
Ahead of the 2023 elections stakeholders involved in education in Oyo state have called on candidates to prioritize the transformation of the education sector, paying particular attention to the education of the girl-child.
The stakeholders, including Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), teachers, school counsellors, labour unions and the media, made the call in Ibadan at a 2-day consultative meeting titled “2023 Elections: Transforming Basic Education in Oyo State.” The event was put together by One Life Initiative and Youthhub Africa with support from the Malala Fund.
At the event, the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Rahman Abdul-Raheem, represented by the director of Schools, Mrs Olukemi Bolaji, commended Onelife Initiative for their recurring concern about girl child education in the state, noting that finding solutions to the problems facing girl-child education requires concerted efforts from everyone.
Abdul-Raheem stated: “Giving the right education/values to this generation and the generations yet unborn, building individuals in both learning and character is what we should all work towards.
“Let us again give this right opportunity to the girl-child to aspire to greatness, turning things around positively just as to their male counterparts, in order to make this state and Nigeria a better place to live.”
He highlighted some of progress made so far by the Ministry to include: resuscitation of School Governing Boards, intervention classes for Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3)students, employment of qualified and competent teachers and education officers in 2021 and the annual celebration of the girl-child.
Similarly, the Executive Director, Onelife Initiative, ‘Sola Fagorusi, explained that the consultative meeting was part of a national manifesto ask to unlock the power of education at the federal, state and local levels and to look at how to place the interest of the girl-child education in the middle of the agenda, as the nation moves into the 2023 elections.
Fagorusi elaborated that the asks from the 2-day event would be put together and forwarded to lead gubernatorial and legislative candidates from the various political parties to press them in considering girl-child education as a priority upon assumption of office by any of them in May, 2023.
“One of our partners is working with girls to see what exactly the girls are saying.
“We also have the documentary component where we’re looking at the issues of girls when they go to school; transportation; health; hygiene; water and sanitation.
“So we’re not just making assumptions. We’re putting all of these together for each of the candidates so as to have a better idea of what to do.
“We ask for the girl-child education at the federal level, including making senior secondary education free and fair; funding education more and better; and making schools safe.” he concluded.
Also present at the two-day consultative meeting held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, were representatives from the Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) and Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT).
The consultation ended with some of the aggregated tasks being: fencing of all school perimeters to improve security; provision of recreational facilities for girls in schools; placement of girls in schools closer to their homes or parent’s/guardian’s workplace; mentorship programme for girls; exchange programmes for girls and teachers; review of educational policies; and inclusion of girl-child specific contents, amongst others.
