Oyo partners with UBEC and U.S. group to strengthen foundational education

Oyo State is preparing to introduce a social and emotional learning programme designed to give young children more than basic literacy skills.

The state government expressed its readiness to work with the Universal Basic Education Commission and the United States-based Think Equal Organisation on the Think Equal Pre-Primary and Primary Literacy Programme. The initiative aims to develop empathy, emotional intelligence, self-regulation and positive social interaction alongside conventional classroom learning.

Nureni Adeniran, executive chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, announced the planned partnership during a sensitisation and engagement visit by Think Equal representatives and UBEC officials to the board’s headquarters in Ibadan. He said the board would assess how the programme could fit into existing teaching arrangements and the state curriculum.

That review will cover teacher professional development, classroom materials, monitoring and evaluation. Adeniran also pointed to existing pre-primary education efforts, including training for 320 early childhood care, development and education teachers across all 33 local government universal basic education authorities in Oyo.

He credited Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration with supporting free basic education, school infrastructure, learner-friendly facilities, teacher welfare and professional development. Thanking UBEC and Think Equal for choosing Oyo as a pilot state, Adeniran said, “Indeed, we are Pacesetters and we do not take this confidence for granted.”

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Indeed, we are Pacesetters and we do not take this confidence for granted.