Oyo Vows To Tackle Out-of-school Children Menace

As the number of out- of –school children continues to swell in the country, Oyo State government has vowed to tackle the menace in the state.

Speaking during a verification tour of the 21 local government areas implementing BESDA in the state, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran applauded the new development.

He said, it was the kind of testimonial for both the teachers and government, as the learners have been assessed before enrolment 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 boasted.

He said it was the aim of the state government that the majority of the learners undergoing non-formal education, gain admission into primary schools.

He thanked the teachers, who work to 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.

Oyo SUBEB boss added that the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration was leaving no stone unturned in reducing the out-of-school menace to the barest minimum in Oyo State.

In her comments, 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 the state.

She applauded the Oyo State government, through the BESDA Technical Committee, noting that the success of the programme is also her main aim.

Speaking in Irepo Local Government, Kishi, the Secretary, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Irepo, Comrade Hassan Ajibola applauded the doggedness of the BESDA team, led by Dr. Adeniran.