Makinde Flags Off Education Support

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has commenced the distribution of motorcycles to School Support Officers and School Mobilisation Officers, alongside 72,000 notebooks for learners across the state’s 33 local government areas, under the Better Education Service Delivery for All Additional Financing, Transforming Education Systems at State Level, BESDA AF-TESS, project.

The flag-off ceremony was held on Monday at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, with the governor represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal, alongside senior education officials and other stakeholders.

Makinde said the intervention formed part of his administration’s efforts to make basic education more accessible, inclusive and effective, with particular attention to the structures responsible for connecting schools with families and communities.

The governor described School Support Officers and School Mobilisation Officers as an important link between educational institutions and communities, particularly in the identification of children who are out of school, enrolment drives and efforts to keep pupils within the education system.

He explained that providing motorcycles would improve the mobility of the officers and enable them to reach communities more promptly as they carry out their responsibilities across the state.

“By providing motorcycles, we are helping these officers reach communities more promptly and carry out their responsibilities with greater efficiency,” the governor said.

Makinde also described the provision of 72,000 notebooks as an intervention designed to address one of the basic requirements for effective classroom participation, particularly for pupils who may face difficulty accessing essential learning materials.

He said access to notebooks would assist pupils to participate more effectively in lessons and complete their schoolwork, while complementing other measures introduced by the government and its development partners to improve learning conditions.

The governor urged the beneficiaries of the motorcycles to treat the vehicles as public assets and use them strictly for official duties, with the expectation that the equipment would translate into improved educational monitoring and stronger community engagement.

He further called on school authorities, parents, community leaders and other stakeholders to cooperate with the officers so that the intervention reaches children who remain outside the formal education system.

Makinde also urged pupils to make proper use of the learning materials, attend school regularly and remain committed to their studies, stressing that education remains important to both their individual prospects and the continued progress of Oyo State.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Intervention, Suraj Abiola Tiamiy, said the initiative would strengthen the relationship between schools and surrounding communities while improving enrolment and attendance.

Tiamiy explained that the improved mobility of School Support Officers and School Mobilisation Officers would assist them in identifying children who are out of school and facilitating their return to classrooms.

He also disclosed that the BESDA AF-TESS project had recorded other interventions, including the distribution of 18,000 tablets to teachers and the renovation of 209 public primary schools across Oyo State.

According to him, the various interventions represent investments in teachers, schools and communities, with sustained collaboration among government institutions, parents and community stakeholders required to improve educational outcomes.

The programme was attended by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Olayiwola, the Chairperson of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission, Olubukola Oladipo, and the Executive Assistant to the Governor on BESDA, Olatoye Olusina, among other officials.

The initiative therefore combines logistical support for education officers with direct provision of learning materials for pupils, as the Oyo State Government continues its efforts to improve access to basic education across the state.

ADVERTISE WITH US

Do you want to reach your targeted audience and expand your brand’s visibility?

Advertise with Polity Reporters to place your “message” before the right audience.

For advertising enquiries, reach us through:

Email: bandcommunications001@gmail.com

Facebook: Polity Reporters

WhatsApp: 07043810558