The Oyo State Government has expressed readiness to partner with the Universal Basic Education Commission and Think Equal Organisation, based in the United States of America, on the implementation of a Social and Emotional Learning initiative aimed at strengthening foundational education in the state.
The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, stated this on Thursday, while receiving representatives of Think Equal Organisation and UBEC officials during a sensitization and engagement visit to the Board’s headquarters in Ibadan.
A statement issued by the media team, OYO SUBEB, explained that the initiative, tagged “Think Equal Pre-Primary and Primary Literacy Programme: A Social and Emotional Learning Initiative,” was designed to complement conventional literacy education with skills that promote empathy, emotional intelligence, self-regulation and positive social interaction among children.
Dr. Adeniran highlighted several interventions by Oyo SUBEB in the area of pre-primary education, including the training of 320 Early Childhood Care, Development and Education teachers across the 33 Local Government Universal Basic Education Authorities in the state.
The chairman attributed the progress recorded in the state’s education sector to the leadership quality of Governor Seyi Makinde, noting that the administration had sustained free and qualitative basic education, invested heavily in school infrastructure and learner-friendly facilities, prioritised teachers’ welfare and continuous professional development, and ensured prudent deployment of UBEC/SUBEB intervention funds.
He assured the visiting officials that the Board would critically review the implementation modalities of the initiative, including teacher professional development, classroom resources, as well as monitoring and evaluation frameworks, to ensure effective integration with the state’s existing school system and curriculum.
Adeniran expressed appreciation to the Think Equal Organisation and UBEC for selecting Oyo State as a pilot state for the initiative, describing the gesture as a recognition of the state’s leadership in education.
“Indeed, we are Pacesetters and we do not take this confidence for granted,” he said, while expressing optimism that the engagement would produce a productive and impactful outcome.
Earlier in her address, the Zonal Director, Universal Basic Education Commission, Mrs. Beatrice Okei said the initiative comes at a time when UBEC in collaboration with State Universal Basic Education Boards have deliberately created an enabling environment for the education sector to thrive, through sustained investment in basic education, teacher development, infrastructure and the welfare of teachers.
Also speaking, the Senior Manager, Africa/Middle East and Asia, Think Equal Initiative, Anas Tahhan explained that the training focused on the revised Learning Through Play pedagogy, aimed at enhancing the holistic development of pre-primary school children while equipping teachers with innovative, inclusive and child-centred teaching strategies.
Tahhan expressed confidence that the values promoted by the organization would complement existing learning processes and contribute to raising “well-rounded, resilient and responsible future leaders.”
The event had in attendance the Executive Secretary, OYOSUBEB, Dr. Kemi Adeosun, and Directors of the Board.
