...Seeks stronger community participation, tackles dropout rate in basic schools


The Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board has intensified efforts to improve access to quality education by training Social Mobilisation Officers and other education stakeholders on effective community engagement strategies aimed at boosting school enrolment and reducing dropout rates across the state.

The three-day capacity-building workshop, organised by SUBEB, brought together Social Mobilisation Officers and stakeholders from the three senatorial districts of Ondo State to strengthen grassroots participation in the delivery of basic education.

Speaking at the workshop, the Permanent Secretary of SUBEB, Princess Abike Bayo-Ilawole, said education remains the bedrock of sustainable societal development, stressing that active community involvement is critical to the success of government educational policies and programmes.

According to her, the workshop was designed to strengthen the relationship between schools and their host communities while equipping participants with the skills needed to improve enrolment, retention and completion of basic education, particularly among vulnerable children.

Bayo-Ilawole explained that Social Mobilisation Officers play strategic roles in promoting community participation in school activities, advocating increased school enrolment, strengthening School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), and ensuring accountability in the management of educational resources.

She identified low enrolment, irregular attendance, school dropout, weak community ownership of schools and inadequate monitoring mechanisms as some of the major challenges confronting the education sector.

The Permanent Secretary urged stakeholders to embrace innovative approaches and stronger collaboration in addressing the challenges, adding that practical implementation of ideas at the grassroots level would help achieve measurable progress in the sector.

She expressed confidence that the workshop would inspire renewed commitment among participants towards building a more inclusive, responsive and effective basic education system where every child has access to quality learning opportunities.

In her goodwill message, the State Coordinator of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Mrs Olanike Adams, described Social Mobilisation Officers as a critical bridge between government policies, schools and local communities.

Represented by the Chief Administrative Officer of UBEC, Mr Aremu Ayodeji, Adams noted that the training was aimed at enhancing the capacity of officers to effectively mobilise communities, improve school enrolment and retention, and promote inclusive access to education for all children.

She encouraged participants to maximise the opportunity to sharpen their mobilisation skills and strategies, noting that stronger community engagement remains essential to achieving sustainable progress in the basic education sector.

Earlier, the Director of Social Mobilisation, Mrs Olukemi Akinmoladun, said the workshop was not only organised for learning but also to provide a platform for reflection, experience-sharing and professional capacity development.

Akinmoladun urged participants to deepen their understanding of their responsibilities as mobilisers, counsellors, advocates, mediators and managers of school-community relationships.

Also speaking, a Professor of Educational Management at Adekunle Ajasin University, Prof. Ayeni Adeolu Joshua, said the training featured carefully selected topics aimed at equipping officers with practical knowledge on advocacy, sensitisation and mobilisation strategies.

He added that participants were exposed to innovative approaches for improving enrolment drives and reducing the number of out-of-school children through collaboration among government agencies, communities and development partners.

Prof. Ayeni also highlighted the importance of the newly introduced five per cent Matching Grant School-Based Management Committee component, saying it would strengthen accountability, transparency and community participation in the management of basic education at the grassroots level.