UNICEF, Oyo SUBEB promote early childhood devt in Ogun, Osun

UNITED Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, has set in motion a process for the development and sustenance of pre-primary education in Oyo, Osun and Ogun states.

The development led to a two-day policy dialogue on the promotion of pre-primary  education in Oyo, Ogun and Osun states, held at the Kakanfo Inn, Ring Road, Ibadan, recently.

The policy dialogue brought together 54 participants/stakeholders in pre-primary education in the three states.

Executive chairman, Oyo SUBEB, Dr Nureni Adeniran, in his welcome address to the 54 participants, reiterated the commitment of the Oyo State government under Governor Seyi Makinde to the education development at all levels with emphasis on pre-primary school and to the campaign for returning of out-of-school children to the formal school system.

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Adeniran noted that the importance of basic education cannot be over-emphasized, and called on every individual in the society, communities and religious groups to support the state government’s ongoing basic education reform process.

“The board is indebted to the Oyo State governor, His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, for his timely intervention towards resuscitating and re-engineering the pre-primary school education and basic education development in general in the state.

“The board also acknowledges the interest of the UNICEF in Oyo State education development and that of the nation in general. It has become inevitable for every stakeholder in basic education to join the state government in its bid to transform education qualitatively and quantitatively.

“As products of the public school, your contribution towards its development and sustenance is very essential. Let us build these schools together,” he said.

Chief Education Officer, UNICEF Country Office, Dr Wose Euphrates, expressed satisfaction over the commitment of the Oyo State government towards pre- primary education development.

She emphasized the need to employ trained care givers to manage pre-school programme to prepare children adequately for basic education.

According to her, there is a need for communities to take interest in pre-primary education development, adding that early childhood education is captured in the education management information system.

She noted that investment in early childhood yields high returns for the family, community and the nation in terms of human capital.

Also, one of the resource persons, Taofeek Lamidi from the Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun stated that parents have the duty to release their children  for the programme, while government should  provide an enabling environment  for the programme to thrive.

He urged every state government to invest more in pre-primary education and ensure that the newly developed curriculum, Reggio Emillia, designed for the pre- primary education programme, is sustained in all public schools in the country.

Director, Social Mobilisation, Information Communication Technology, Oyo SUBEB, Mrs Ngozi Akinde, while giving the vote of thanks, enjoined participants to put in their best in ensuring the development of early childhood education in their various states.

At the end of the two-day dialogue meeting, it was resolved that government should have a separate budget line for early childhood education development and also dedicate fund for implementation of early child care.

As contained in the communiqué, the participants noted that government should mobilise and provide support for communities to establish and sustain community-based ECCD centres.

They also called for an improved sensitisation policy strategies to increase enrolment of children in early child care centre.

Nigerian Tribune