The Oyo State Government in collaboration with Global Partnership for Education (GPE), a World Bank assisted programme has disbursed grants for the renovation of 58 public schools in the state.
A statement by the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OyoSUBEB) said the Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, made this known during a meeting with stakeholders, including chairmen of School Based Management Committees, SBMCs, and head teachers, among others, in Ibadan.
During the meeting, Prof. Adelabu said that some of the selected public schools would receive facelift, through rehabilitation,.
He called on the SBMCs and headteachers responsible for the project delivery in various Local Government Areas, to be accountable and transparent in utilising the funds.
He said; “As part of the approved workplace for the project, some schools were selected for infrastructural development exercise such as renovation of classrooms with potable water, furniture, toilet facilities and solar system.”
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman, OyoSUBEB, Dr Nureni Adeniran said that the cost of the schools selected for rehabilitation under same programme would be determined upon inspection of deplorable nature of the benefiting schools.
Dr Adeniran underscored the importance of education as a priority area of the present administration, saying the project is significant with the agenda of the state government in developing a road map in its education sector.
He stated: “The BESDA, Additional Fund Transforming Education Sector At State Level is a global Partnership in Education sponsored programme for states with special considerations that performed well in the first phase of BESDA.”
“This underscores the fact that education is a priority for the Oyo State Government, under Seyi Makinde. The rehabilitation of schools would create a conducive learning environment for our children,” Dr Adeniran affirmed.
The Special Adviser on Education Intervention, Tiamiyu Abiodun said the grant was meant to turn around the infrastructure of schools in the state, noting that the project would enhance the capacity of education in the state, hence the need to involve SBMCs.
Abiodun disclosed that the selection of beneficiary schools was objective and devoid of bias or political interferences, explaining that the project was a collective delivery by each community, and meeting the criteria and benchmark set by the World Bank would determine the next phase of the project.
He said; “the GPE was providing support to three focus states of Oyo, Adamawa and Kastina to address issues of access and learning outcomes.”
Abiodun stated; “We are about to witness transformation in schools’ infrastructure that are under served or hard to reach either for construction or renovation with basic amenities. This is to make learning conducive for learners, increase enrollment and ultimately reduce the menace of out of school children.”
The SBMC Chairman, Community Basic School, Idi Ose, Igana, Mr John Omolewu, who spoke on behalf of the benefiting schools, promised quality and transparent execution of the job at the end of the project.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
