To eradicate illiteracy and enhance access to quality education, Oyo State Government has commenced the implementation of Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) in the State.
The State governor, Seyi Makinde stated this, during a policy dialogue workshop on implementation of BESDA held at Emeritus Professor Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall in Ibadan.
Speaking on his behalf, the Commissioner Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Faosat Sanni disclosed that the initiative would increase access to better education in the State, adding that about Two hundred and seventy-two thousand, eight hundred and forty-seven out-of-school children would be beneficiaries.
While calling on an allinclusive participatory implementation of the programme, he added that the objective of the programme was to increase access to education for the outof-school children, improve literacy rate and retain them in schools at the basic education level.
Sanni revealed that the initiative intended to include every child in the free education policy of the State, “leaving no child behind and consequently making every child count”, she said.
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She commended the free education policy of the Seyi Makinde led administration, which according to her, has yielded an increase in the return of children to public schools across the State.
“Recently, the State Government has announced free and compulsory qualitative education at Basic and Secondary Education levels in the State. The resultant effects of which are an increase in enrolment in our public schools throughout the State,” she buttressed.
The Commissioner ascertained that the State government had adopted proactive measures to enhance collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the education sector, to address the effects of out-ofschool-children in the State.
While appreciating World Bank and Universal Basic Education Commission for their financial and technical supports, Sanni added that “Oyo State, as one of the beneficiaries would ensure judicial use of funds to improve literacy and strengthen accountability for result.”
In his speech, the executive chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Nureni Adeniran affirmed that the main objective of the programme was to eradicate child abuse and other vices in the society.
“BESDA programme will help in eliminating child abuse and child labour, improve health and hygiene, promote self-reliance, increase economic growth and enhance social strength of the nation while eliminating the incidence of out-of-school-children”, he opined.
He urged parents and guardians to ensure the literacy of their wards and tasked teachers to be dedicated to their duties to revive the education sector.
Facilitators at the Workshop, Professor Rashid Adewumi Aderinoye and a former Chairman of the Board, Suleiman Adediran called on all stakeholders, including Government and its various agencies, School Based Management Committees, School Governing Boards to monitor and evaluate Basic education system for better students’ performance in the State.
