In furtherance of his administration’s commitment to improving the standard of education in Oyo State, Governor ‘Seyi Makinde has disbursed the sum of N3.5billion educational support grant to 105 primary schools in rural areas across the three senatorial districts of the state.
Presenting dummy cheques to representatives of the beneficiary-schools at the Conference Room of the Secretary to the State Government, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, the governor noted that in spite of challenges, the government has continued to rate education high and first in every of its policies.
The grant support is a World Bank Project under Better Education Service Delivery for All – Additional Funding (BESDA-AF), which the state is a beneficiary of; it is aimed at increased equitable access for out-of-school children and improvement of literacy in focus states.
It also seeks to strengthen accountability for results in basic education in Nigeria.
Speaking through the Deputy Governor, Barr. Bayo Lawal, Governor Makinde explained that the grant is meant for renovation of primary schools with critical attention, saying that the renovation exercise will commence simultaneously in all the 105 schools.
While congratulating the schools benefiting from the educational support grant, he charged them to avoid doing shoddy jobs and ensure that all the projects are in accordance with the prescriptions, so that the pupils can benefit and appreciate government efforts in the education sector.
He said: “This is in furtherance of the record of Oyo State Government at ensuring that education comes on the front burner in the activities of the state government.
“A couple of months back, it was in this conference room that presentations were made by representatives of the World Bank and other critical stakeholders as to how to assist in improving the standard of education in the state.
“I recall that the major requirement was for the state government to put in its counterpart funding, which has been done.
“This is to let all of us know that despite various challenges the state government is facing, the current administration still puts education on the front burner. Education is taking almost 21 per cent of the state’s annual budget.
“Education comes first always. Without education, you and I cannot be here. So, I have to congratulate the stakeholders – TESCOM, the Ministry of Education, and the driver of the project, who is the S.A Education Intervention.
“A huge amount of money is being put into this project and I am saying this to the beneficiaries that you must put your eyes into what is being done in your various schools.
“The standard must be in accordance with prescriptions, so that our children will take maximum advantage of the facilities the government is putting in place.
“We are starting simultaneously and if we have a commencement period, there must be a conclusion period. So, we will walk the rope, start and put a timeline for completion.
“The representatives here must spread the news to other places and there should not be excuses for non-performance.
Representatives of schools from the Senatorial Districts will also be involved to carry the message. You have a lot to do, as the facilities are not good enough but we will catch up gradually and put our education system in proper perspective.
“So, on this note, on behalf of the governor of Oyo State, I appreciate BESDA and congratulate all the beneficiary-schools.”
Earlier in his address, the Commissioner, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Professor Saliu Adelabu, explained that the project is a form of Educational Grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in collaboration with the World Bank and it involves three states in the country; Oyo, Adamawa and Katsina.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser, (Education Intervention), Oloye Suraj Abiodun Tiamiyu, said that the renovation of approved primary schools in the rural areas across the Senatorial Districts will be done within six weeks of commencement.
He added that the renovations will be encompassing with thorough monitoring for effective delivery to standard and time framework.
The event had in attendance the Chairman, Oyo State Post-Primary Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Pastor Akin Alamu and the chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Nureni Adeniran, among others.