…Says BESDA-AF Boost’ll Transform Public Schools, Non-Formal Sector
The Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Education Intervention, Oloye Suraj Abiodun Tiamy, has lauded Governor Seyi Makinde for what he described as a far-reaching education intervention that is set to significantly improve infrastructure in public schools and enhance learning outcomes across the state.
Tiamy gave the commendation following the disclosure by the governor that about 65,000 out-of-school children have been returned to classrooms in Oyo State through the Better Education Service Delivery for Additional Financing (BESDA-AF) programme.
Governor Makinde made the disclosure while receiving a delegation on the BESDA-AF implementation support mission of the World Bank and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) at the Executive Council Chamber, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Reacting to the development, Tiamy said the milestone recorded under the BESDA-AF initiative underscored the governor’s unwavering commitment to expanding access to quality education and strengthening the foundation of basic education in the state.
“This administration, under the purposeful leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, has demonstrated genuine commitment to reducing the number of out-of-school children and ensuring that every child in Oyo State has access to quality education,” Tiamy said.
“The return of 65,000 children to the classroom is not just a statistic; it represents renewed hope for thousands of families and a strategic investment in the future of our state.”
He noted that beyond increasing enrolment, the intervention would bring about substantial improvements in infrastructure in public schools, including the construction and renovation of classrooms, as well as the provision of textbooks and other instructional materials.
“The BESDA-AF programme will greatly improve infrastructure across our public schools. We are already witnessing progress in the provision of learning materials, including textbooks and other instructional resources that will enhance teaching and learning,” he stated.
Tiamy added that the intervention would also have a significant impact on the non-formal education sector, particularly Quranic centres and other community-based learning institutions.
This initiative is inclusive in scope. It is not limited to conventional public schools alone; it will also positively impact the non-formal sector, such as Quranic centres, ensuring that children in those settings are not left behind in our drive for universal basic education,” he said.
Recall that the World Bank mission visit under the BESDA AF-TESS (GPE) programme was led by Mr. Shin of the World Bank and Mr. Aleshin, the National Coordinator from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
As part of the OAK States collaboration, the BESDA teams from Adamawa State and Katsina State were also present, led by their respective SUBEB Chairmen and State Project Coordinators.
The Oyo State BESDA Team formally welcomed the visiting teams, led by the Special Adviser and Mr. Teslim Fagbemi, the State Project Coordinator.
