A girl-child education project carried out by BudgIT and funded by Malala has drawn attention to deteriorating school infrastructure, inadequate toilet facilities and declining female enrolment at Community Grammar School, Oke-Ayo, Odo-Ona, in Ibadan South West Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The concerns were raised during a town hall meeting on advocacy for financing girl-child education held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Odo-Ona Apata, along Abeokuta Road, Ibadan.
The meeting was organised under the Malala-funded girl-child education project implemented by BudgIT to promote sustainable education financing, accountability and improved learning conditions for girls.
It brought together community leaders, traditional and religious leaders, women leaders, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) representatives, parents, guardians, representatives of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and other education stakeholders.
Participants discussed funding gaps affecting girls’ education, poor school infrastructure, inadequate sanitation and the need for stronger community involvement in ensuring that girls have access to quality education.
Community Calls for Urgent School Renovation
During the meeting, the community leader stressed the importance of educating girls and urged parents to provide their children with proper guidance, discipline and moral values.
He appealed to the government to renovate the dilapidated facilities at Community Grammar School, Oke-Ayo, Odo-Ona, explaining that the poor condition of the school had contributed to declining female enrolment.
He called for urgent government intervention to improve the school’s learning environment and encourage more parents to enrol their daughters.
The women leader, a former principal of the school, also expressed concern about the deteriorating facilities, noting that the school’s condition had previously affected staff retention.
She warned that inadequate sanitation could expose female students to infections and other health complications, stressing the need for functional facilities that support students’ welfare and continued participation in education.
Parents Raise Concerns Over Toilet Facilities
Parents and guardians at the town hall meeting expressed concern over the lack of functional toilets and adequate sanitation facilities at the school.
They reported that some female students were forced to hold their urine and bowel movements throughout school hours because of the absence of suitable toilet facilities.
According to the concerns raised, the situation could expose students to health risks, contribute to absenteeism and affect their concentration in the classroom.
Participants also reported that some female students had contracted infections amid the sanitation challenges, although no medical evidence was presented at the meeting to confirm the reported cases.
The parents called on the government to urgently provide functional toilets and improve sanitation within the school.
They emphasised that adequate toilet facilities are essential to protecting students’ health, dignity and ability to participate fully in their education.
SUBEB Explains Government Responsibilities
The SUBEB representative clarified that the board’s intervention covers primary and junior secondary schools, while senior secondary education falls under the Ministry of Education and the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).
She advised community leaders and school management to submit formal requests on official letterhead through the appropriate channels to seek government intervention.
The representative also highlighted the importance of an active School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) in improving school administration and promoting accountability.
She explained that the committee should include community leaders, school management, students, alumni, religious leaders and other relevant stakeholders.
Such collaboration, she noted, would strengthen community participation in identifying school needs and supporting efforts to improve learning conditions.
Stakeholders Agree on Measures to Improve Girls’ Education
At the end of the meeting, participants agreed on several measures to address the challenges affecting girl-child education in Odo-Ona Apata.
They resolved that community leaders, school management and the PTA should jointly submit a formal request to SUBEB for the renovation or construction of classrooms and the provision of modern toilet facilities.
Requests relating to senior secondary school infrastructure are to be submitted separately to the Ministry of Education and TESCOM.
The stakeholders also agreed that community members should take responsibility for protecting and maintaining school facilities to ensure their continued use.
In addition, they called for sustained public enlightenment through media campaigns and educational programmes to promote responsible parenting, discipline and greater support for girls’ education.
The resolutions highlighted the need for coordinated action involving government agencies, parents, school authorities and community members to address the barriers affecting girls’ access to quality education.
BudgIT Implements Malala-Funded Girl-Child Education Project
The town hall meeting formed part of a girl-child education project carried out by BudgIT with funding from Malala.
The project focuses on advocacy for education financing, accountability and improved learning conditions for girls, with community engagement providing an opportunity to identify challenges and discuss practical solutions.
During the meeting, stakeholders identified inadequate school infrastructure, poor sanitation, funding gaps and declining female enrolment as key concerns requiring attention.
They also stressed the importance of ensuring that education funding and government interventions respond to the needs of schools and students, particularly girls who face barriers to accessing a conducive learning environment.
The agreed resolutions include engaging the relevant government agencies through formal requests, improving community participation in school maintenance and sustaining public awareness campaigns on the importance of girl-child education.
The meeting concluded with a call for stronger collaboration among government institutions, community leaders, parents and other stakeholders to improve school infrastructure, sanitation, enrolment and educational outcomes for girls in Oyo State.
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