Oyo State Better Education Service Delivery for All Additional Financing -Transforming Education Services Delivery (BESDA AF-TESS), on Wednesday, distributed Thirty -Three Motorcycles to School Support Officers (SSO) across all the local Government areas of the State for easy access to hard to reach schools.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu while presenting the keys of the motorcycles to school support officers from the beneficiaries MDAs, which includes, TESCOM, SUBEB and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, at Ministry’s Car Park, Agodi, Secretariat, Ibadan, reiterated the commitment of the present administration to reduce numbers of out of School Children in the State.

Prof. Adelabu noted that the Oyo State Government, with support from the World Bank, is working assiduously to strengthen the educational system in the State and also improve the performances of the students in four key subjects.

The Commissioner explained that the motorcycles will enable the school support officers to cover the schools within the cities and rural areas during monitoring and data gathering in relation to out of school children and other important areas.

He added that part of the agenda of the state government and World Bank under the BESDA project is to ensure there is an improvement in the teaching and learning process of the English language, Mathematics, Science, and Information Communication Technology in public schools in the State.

He revealed that plans are under way to construct a block of classrooms, toilets, and other essential facilities in the selected schools in the State under the BESDA AF- TESS 2024 work plan.

In his remarks, the State’s Coordinator of BESDA-AF-TESS, Dr. Bamidele Odekunle, said the motorcycles distributed are not palliatives but an intervention to improve and strengthen the education system in the State.

He explained that there are four subjects (Mathematics, English Language, ICT, Basic Science and Technology) that need to improve upon across the State.

Odekunle said that the supervisors will be moving round the nooks and crannies of the State to ensure that the teachers handling the four subjects are well tutored and get the required skills for the job.

He hinted that there are some schools that are difficult to reach by vehicles; hence, there is a need for the distribution of the motorcycles to aid easy access and coverage of these schools by designated officers.

He appreciated the Global Partnership for Education and the World Bank for adding value to the education sector of the State, assuring that collective goals of involved  partners would be achieved within the stipulated time.

Earlier, the BESDA AF- TESS steering committee had a meeting for the first quarter of the year at the conference room of the ministry of education, where 2023 implementation activities were reviewed.

The meeting had in attendance the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, Chairman, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Pastor Akinade Alamu; Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran; Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Intervention, Oloye Suraj Tiamy and a host of others.

E-Signed

Media Team,

MoES&T

…as Education Ministry organises roundtable discussion

The Oyo State Government, on Tuesday, expressed its readiness to chart new ways towards a sustainable approach to advance the scope of Education in the State.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, stated this while speaking at the roundtable discussion with Chairmen of the Governing councils, heads of institutions, registrars, bursars and Librarians of Oyo State owned Tertiary Institutions, held at the lead City University, Ibadan.

He noted that the roundtable discussion was organized by the ministry of Education, Science and Technology, meant to redesign another method for Education advancement in the State.

He called for synergy between the Governing Councils and Managements of State-owned tertiary institutions to enable the universities, polytechnics, and colleges of Education across the State to achieve their core mandates.

He charged the leadership of institutions to come up with initiatives that would attract funding from donor agencies and other organizations, adding that tertiary institutions must be proactive in the development of their institutions.

The Commissioner noted that the visitor to the University and Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, places a high premium on the attainment of qualitative Education.

In their separate presentations, the Chairman, Governing Council, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Prof.’Deji Omole, discussed “on the Operational System in Tertiary Institutions”,explained that there is a need for synergy among the university managers from Pro-Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, other Officers, staff and students.

He also discussed various functions and responsibilities of stakeholders, including Alumni and community, who own the public universities.

While delivering his lecture on “Alternative funding opportunities”,

the Chairman, Governing Council, OYSCATECH, Igbo Ora, Prof Lateef Sanni, submitted that the Government alone cannot fund ducation.

The Don explained that there should be interconnectivity among all the tertiary institutions in the State.

He therefore called for the establishment of Oyo State Corporate Education Task Fund, adding that institutions should source for donors that can come to their aid.

The last presenter, Prof Segun Ajiboye, who was represented by Mr. Ibukun Atere, discussed “enhancing capacity building in basic and secondary schools.”

He explained that the Education sector has been persistent in expressing concern about the dwindling quality of primary and secondary education in Nigeria, which seems to be attributed to the perceived inadequacies in teachers’ capacity building and productivity.

He maintained that a tertiary institution needs to be digital inclusive in terms of practice.

He said there is a need for training and retraining of teachers in schools for effective delivery of their services.

Also in attendance were Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Lead City University, Prof. Jide Owoeye, Vice-Chancellor, Lead City University, Prof. Kabiru Adeyemo, the Registrar, Dr (Mrs) Oyebola Ayeni, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Olusanjo Adeniyi, Director, Higher and Continuing Education, Mr.Adewale  Oluwole and a host of others.

*E -Signed

Media Team,

MoES&T

…warns Principals, Teachers Against Collection of Illegal Fees

Oyo State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Salihu Adelabu, on Monday, described the level of compliance of Teachers and Students in resumption to the second term school calendar in the State as impressive.

The Commissioner stated this while monitoring the resumption of the schools for the second
term academic activities in Ibadan metropolis, warned principals and teachers to desist from collecting illegal fees from students and parents, reiterating that education is free from Primary to Secondary Schools in Oyo State.

Prof. Adelabu, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adeniyi Olusanjo and directors from the ministry, encouraged students to face their study squarely and Teachers to act professionally by bringing creativity and innovation into their teaching methods.

He explained that principals and teachers in all schools monitored were actively on ground for academic activities.

He urged parents who are yet to release their wards to quickly release them as academic activities have begun in earnest, saying that keeping them back home will put them at a disadvantaged position among their colleagues.

He said: ‘Today is the first day of resumption in our public Primary and Secondary Schools in Oyo State.

The enthusiasm of the Teachers and Students is very okay; luckily enough, bases on what I have seen, not less than 70% of our Students resumed and almost 97% of the staff are in the Schools.

” With the morale of Teachers and Students, the second will be a fruitful section for both the students and the Teachers.

“I will encourage the Students to sit tight and face their study squarely, and the Teachers should act professionally by bringing creativity and innovation into their teaching methods.

“I want to warn the Teachers that never must they charge the students and parents because Education is free in Oyo State, also to the parents whose their Children are yet to come, should allow them to come to school as teachings and learnings have commenced in the Schools.

“Schools monitored by the Commissioner and his team included: Oba Akibiyi Model School, Mokola, St. Louis Grammar School, Mokola, Government Secondary School, Orita-Aperin, Ibadan and a host of others.