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Oyo State Government has said it is excited with the news that some non-formal learners, under the Intensive Literacy Programme of Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) have been mainstreamed into formal schools.
Speaking during a verification tour of the 21 Local Government Areas implementing BESDA in Oyo State, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Nureni Adeniran applauded the new development.
He said, it is a testimonial for both the teachers and government, as the learners have been assessed before enrolling into the formal schools.
“This is a big plus for us in Oyo State. It shows that BESDA is working for us. Though we do not have the actual figure yet, some non-formal learning centres we visited in certain local governments affirmed that some of their learners have been mainstreamed,” Adeniran said.
According to Adeniran, it is the aim of Oyo State Government that the majority of the learners undergoing non-formal education, gain admission into primary schools.
He thanked the teachers, who teach the students basic education, adding that their roles have bridged the gap between the non-formal learners and children in the formal learning centres.
The SUBEB boss added that Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration is leaving no stone unturned in reducing the out-of-school menace to the barest minimum in Oyo State.
Speaking, the BESDA Consultant for Oyo State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, who also monitored the verification exercise in some local government areas, commended the impressive turn-out of BESDA in Oyo State.
She applauded the Oyo State Government, through the BESDA Technical Committee, noting that the success of the programme is also her main focus.
Speaking in Kisi, Irepo Local Government, the Secretary, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Hassan Ajibola, applauded the doggedness of the BESDA team, led by Adeniran.
He noted that the success of the BESDA programme was made easy through their honesty and commitment to the course.
The NUT leader appealed to Oyo State Government to consider incorporating the BESDA teachers into the mainstream teaching service.
Adeniran, who led a team of BESDA Technical Committee members on the verification exercise visited St. Paul’s Anglican School, Odo-ona, Ibadan South West Local Government; Community Primary School II, Airport, Ona-Ara Local Government; Community Primary School II, Ojimi-Ayinde, Ido Local Government; C&S School II, Ayete, Ibarapa North Local Government; Baptist Basic School III, Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government; and Islamic Mission Primary School, Bode, Ibadan South East Local Government.
Other BESDA implementing schools visited were St. David’s Basic School, Akingbehin, Olorunda-Aba, Lagelu Local Government; St. Stephen Basic School, Araromi-Ajobo, Akinyele Local Government; LA Pry School, Oke-Esa, Iseyin; Nawair-Ud-Deen Basic School, Otu, Itesiwaju Local Government; Macedonia Community Primary School, Idi-Ero, Saki; LA Pry School, Igboho; and LA School II, Sabo, Oyo, Atiba Local Government.
Also visited were Nomadic Pry School, Gaa-Okenla, Kisi, Irepo Local Government; CPS Ayepe, Oriire Local Government; Baptist Basic School, Osupa, Ogbomoso North Local Government; Methodist Pry School, Oke-Ado, Surulere; and Baptist Basic School, Ile-Abu, Ogo-Oluwa Local Government.