In a bid to improve education infrastructure across Oyo State, the Better Education Service Delivery for All Additional Financing-Transforming Education Systems (BESDA AF-TESS) has trained 132 School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) members on the management of school renovations and construction within their communities.
The two-day training, held at Providence Arena, Akobo, Ibadan, brought together representatives from 33 schools, with each school delegating four members, including SBMC chairpersons, head teachers, women leaders, and other key stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Intervention, Suraj Tiamiyu, emphasized that the training was designed to enhance the quality of education in Oyo State through a community-driven development approach.
According to him, this initiative will empower local stakeholders to ensure that school renovation projects are completed efficiently, on time, and within budget.
“The SBMC members, who are community stakeholders, will support the government in monitoring and protecting infrastructure put in place by the Oyo government through the BESDA programme,” Tiamiyu stated.
Bamidele Odekunle, the BESDA AF-TESS Project Coordinator, further clarified that the training aligns with the Global Partnership for Education’s (GPE) requirements, which advocate for community-led school renovation efforts. According to him, the core objectives of BESDA AF-TESS include ensuring equitable access to education for all children, regardless of background, enhancing teachers’ pedagogical skills through specialized training, and improving school infrastructure to create a more conducive learning environment for both students and teachers.
One of the participants, Joseph Muyiwa, expressed appreciation on behalf of SBMC members, acknowledging the Oyo State Government and the World Bank for actively involving local communities in the renovation of classrooms.
“All the infrastructure facilities being put in place will aid the learning of the children as well as improve the teaching ability of the teachers,” Muyiwa noted.
The BESDA AF-TESS training is expected to strengthen community engagement in school management, ensuring that education infrastructure projects align with the needs of students and teachers across Oyo State.
