By Micheal Adeyemo
Oyo State Government and Stakeholders in the education sector have key roles to play in addressing the alarming rate of out-school children and gender imbalance in the sector.
This was the submission of the Executive Director, ONELIFE Initiative, Mr Sola Fagorusi, at a capacity Building of Media on Gender Responsive Education Sector Plan, GRESP organised by the initiative in collaboration with Malala Fund Champions Nigeria and other partners in Ibadan.
Mr Fagorusi said according to research, Oyo State has the highest number of out of school children in the southwest, with a record of over two hundred and seventy thousand in the state.
Mr Fagorusi said the state’s Education is fraught with numerous challenges ranging from the shortage of qualified teachers, poor record-keeping, indiscipline, poor classroom management skills, and truancy among children.
Speaking on the media’s role in Gender Responsive Education Sector Plan, GRESP, Director Programmes and Administration of ONELIFE Initiative, Ms Moyin Isola, said the media must advocate for education policies that would benefit both genders through equality.
Ms. Isola also said the workshop was to inspire and motivate media professionals and content creators to beam light on gender gaps in the education sector.
Speaking on, Understanding Gender Issues in Education, Research Officer of INVICTUS AFRICA, Mr Toba Akanmu, stressed the need for Oyo State to adopt a running Education Sector Plan (ESP), a strategy document that provides a goal for the educational system and outlines the means to attain it.
Highlights of the event include, Group Work and presentation that produced action plans to drive the outcome of the meeting and next step strategies coordinated by Mrs Eno Simon of ACE Charity, Abuja, Nigeria.
