By Ayodele Oni
Public schools in Oyo State are to wear new look as the State Government in collaboration with Global Partnership for Education (GPE), a World Bank assisted programme disbursed grants for their renovation.
Under the programme, 58 public schools in the State are to benefit.
The state Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu disclosed this during a meeting with stakeholders in Ibadan.
The stakeholders in attendance include Chairmen of School Based Management Committees, (SBMCs), Head teachers among others.
During the meeting, Prof. Adelabu revealed that some of the selected public schools will receive facelift, through rehabilitation.
He called on the School Based Management SBMCs and Head teachers responsible for the project delivery in various local governments, to be accountable and transparent in utilizing the funds.
“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, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran hinted 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.
He said the project was significant with the agenda of the State government in developing a road map in its educational sector.
“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 Engr. Seyi Makinde. The rehabilitation of schools would create a conducive learning environment for our children.”
The Special Adviser on Education Intervention, Tiamiyu Suraju Abiodun, said the grant was meant to turn around infrastructure of schools in the state.
He said the project will enhance the capacity of Education in the state, therefore the need to involve SBMCs.
Suraju-Abiodun said that the selection of beneficiary schools was objective and devoid of bias or political interferences.
The Special Adviser stated that the project was a collective delivery by each community, and meeting the criteria and benchmark set by 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.
“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.”
