Back to School for 272,847 Oyo children through ‘BESDA’ Scheme

The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board,(SUBEB), Dr. Nureni Adeniran, has assured that the implementation of the World Bank supported “Better Education Service Delivery for All” (BESDA) scheme will see 272,847 out of school children in the state get a free education.

The SUBEB boss gave this assurance at the Opening ceremony of the interactive session with stakeholders on implementation of BESDA Scheme held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, the state capital on Friday.

Adeniran, also promised that the state would work in line with the standard blueprint in executing the programme, assuring that by next session there would be a reduction in out of school children in Oyo State.

He  noted that as contained in a sample by the Nigerian Education Data Survey (NEDS) 2015, Oyo State has been observed to have the total of 272,847 Out of School Children marooning the street and constituting nuisance in the state.

The five-year  “Better Education Service Delivery for All” (BESDA) scheme is a short term initiative set to run between 2017 – 2022 and saddled with the responsibility of improving literacy level and increasing equitable access to Out of School children to go back to school.

According to the SUBEB Chair, Oyo state was  the only Southwest state benefitting from the five-year BESDA programme.

“Oyo state is well prepared and you can see the huge turnout of our various stakeholders.

“There is a technical work plan that will be used and we’ll create awareness on the importance of schooling in deriving adequate security and a crime free state.”

He further lauded  Governor  Seyi Makinde for his support towards improving education in the Pacesetter state.

Also speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of BESDA scheme, Prof. Gidado Tahir  noted  that Oyo state has the best infrastructure and commitment in deriving the goal of the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA).

Professor Tahiru explained that the programme was aimed at drastically reducing the rate of out of school children across the country while noting that Oyo State was among seventeen states that had benefitted from the programme.

“This is a programme that is designed specifically for all children who are not in school for the purpose that they are given education, particularly literacy.

“Let us see that we clear the less than 300,000 children on the streets before the mid-term. Let’s commit ourselves to see that this is done”, he added.

Also,  the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Daud Sangodoyin declared that  education is a compulsory right of every Nigerian irrespective of gender, social status, religion, ethnic background and peculiar individual challenges.

The commissioner, who was represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry, Mrs. Aminat Atere lauded  the World Bank assisted programme, stressing that the state government is committed to providing quality education to all its citizenry.