Oyo Govt Collaborates with World Bank to Refurbish 58 Schools

Education

Oyo Govt Collaborates with World Bank to Refurbish 58 Schools

Reported by Ibadan Media

The Oyo State government, in partnership with the Global
Partnership for Education (GPE), a World Bank-assisted programme, has disbursed
grants for refurbishing 58 public schools in Oyo State.

Prof. Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu, the State Commissioner for
Education, Science and Technology, disclosed this during a meeting with stakeholders
in Ibadan. The stakeholders in attendance include Chairmen of School
Based Management Committees (SBMCs), and head teachers, among others.

Adelabu stated that some of the public schools selected will
receive a facelift through rehabilitation. He called on the SBMCs and head
teachers responsible for the delivery of the project in various local governments,
to be accountable and transparent in utilizing the disbursed funds.

He said, “As part of the approved workplace for the project,
some schools were selected for infrastructural development exercises, such as
renovation of classrooms, with potable water, furniture, toilet facilities, and
solar system.”

In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Universal
Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, said the cost of the
schools selected for rehabilitation under the same programme would be
determined upon inspection of the deplorable nature of the benefiting schools. He emphasized the importance of education as a priority area
of the present administration in Oyo state, saying that the project was
significant with the plan of the state government to develop a roadmap in its
educational sector.

“The BESDA additional fund transforming the education sector
at the state level is a global partnership in education sponsored program 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”, he
said.

Oloye Tiamiyu Suraju Abiodun, the Special Adviser on Education Intervention, said
the grant would turn around the infrastructure of schools in the state, stating
that the project will enhance the capacity of education in the state and thus
the need to involve SBMCs.

He emphasized that the choice of recipient schools was
impartial and free from any bias or political influence, further explaining
that the project\\\'s success relied on the unified efforts of each community, and
adherence to the criteria and standards set by the World Bank would dictate the
project\\\'s progression to the next stage. He also mentioned that the GPE was assisting three priority states: Oyo, Adamawa, and Katsina, to tackle challenges related
to educational access and learning achievements.

“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,” he said.

Mr. John Olalere Omolewu, the SBMC Chairman of Community
Basic School in Idi Ose, Iganna, speaking on behalf of the schools receiving
benefits, pledged a commitment to ensuring that the project would be executed with
quality and transparency.