Stakeholders in the education sector have called for urgent government intervention to address severe infrastructure deficits affecting public schools in Oyo State, with concerns that poor learning conditions are threatening girls’ education and school attendance.
The appeal was made during a School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) engagement held under the BudgIT–Malala Girls’ Education Advocacy Project at the Architecture Building Engineering Technician School Academy, Odo Ona Elewe, in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The meeting, which commenced at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026, brought together school administrators, teachers, parents, SBMC members, representatives of BudgIT, the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and female student representatives to discuss strategies for improving education financing and creating a safer learning environment for girls.
Opening the session, representatives of the BudgIT–Malala project explained that the initiative seeks to strengthen collaboration among government institutions, school authorities, parents, and community leaders to secure increased investment in girls’ education while improving learning conditions across public schools.
Speaking during the meeting, the Senior School Principal described the advocacy programme as a timely intervention, noting that the school has struggled with inadequate infrastructure for several years despite repeated promises of support from alumni, political office holders, and other stakeholders.
According to the principal, many students attend classes without desks, while teachers also lack basic office furniture, including chairs and tables. He expressed confidence that the partnership between BudgIT and the Malala project could help attract the attention needed to address the school’s pressing needs.
The Junior School Principal also highlighted the difficult conditions facing both staff and students. She disclosed that several classrooms are in poor condition, with one building considered unsafe for use due to the risk of collapse.
She further revealed that the school has no functional toilet facilities for students or staff, adding that the poor working environment has discouraged some National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members from remaining at the school after deployment. She also noted that some teachers bring chairs from their homes because of the shortage of office furniture.
The Headmistress of the IDC School section of the institution acknowledged that although one classroom block had previously been renovated through external assistance, the school still lacks perimeter fencing, exposing the premises to vandalism and other security concerns.
She explained that the poor state of infrastructure has negatively affected student enrolment, particularly among girls, who require a safe and supportive learning environment.
Representing the students, the Senior Girl appealed for immediate provision of toilet and sanitation facilities, stressing that the absence of proper hygiene infrastructure exposes female students to infections and other health challenges.
She noted that many girls from low-income families spend limited resources treating illnesses linked to poor sanitation, while others miss classes during their menstrual periods because the school lacks suitable facilities to support menstrual hygiene.
A parent representative commended the efforts of the school management, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), and BudgIT, while urging relevant authorities to prioritise the construction of modern toilets, rehabilitation of school buildings, improved sanitation, and increased funding for public schools.
The representative of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), who joined the meeting later due to official assignments, clarified that SUBEB oversees public primary and junior secondary schools, while senior secondary schools fall under the Oyo State Ministry of Education.
He encouraged members of the School-Based Management Committee to sustain advocacy efforts and engage the appropriate government agencies to secure the interventions required to improve infrastructure and educational outcomes.
At the end of the engagement, participants agreed to strengthen collaboration among school authorities, parents, government institutions, community leaders, and development partners to promote inclusive and quality education for girls.
The meeting also resolved to intensify advocacy for increased education funding, improved classroom infrastructure, better sanitation facilities, and stronger community participation to support the successful implementation of the BudgIT–Malala Girls’ Education Advocacy Project across Oyo State.
