The Oyo State Government has unveiled its Education Sector Plan (2026-2030) with the support of the Malala Fund and YouthHubAfrica. The plan aims to improve access, equity, inclusiveness, and quality of education across the state. It was launched by the Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology at the Ibadan Business School, Bodija, Ibadan. Stakeholders from government agencies, education institutions, civil society organisations, and development partners attended the event.
According to the report, Oyo State has 2,774,210 students enrolled in 10,624 public and private schools across its 33 local government areas. The report, based on the state's Annual School Census, shows that 82 per cent of students are enrolled in public schools, while private schools account for the remaining 18 per cent. At the public pre-primary and primary levels, male students account for 49.1 per cent of enrolment, while female students represent 50.9 per cent.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, expressed satisfaction with the progress made in developing the document. He described the launch as the culmination of months of collaboration and hard work, noting that the next phase required moving from policy formulation to implementation for the benefit of students. The commissioner said the plan provided an opportunity to turn the state's educational aspirations into concrete actions.
The Executive Director of YouthHubAfrica, Rotimi Olawale, representing the Malala Fund Education Champion Network, expressed optimism that effective implementation of the plan could position Oyo as a reference point for other states. Olawale said the development of the document was only the beginning, adding that its success would depend on the commitment of stakeholders to implementing the proposed policies.
The overview of the Education Sector Plan was presented by the ministry's Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr I.A. Adekunle, and the drafting consultant, Sola Fagorusi. They explained that the 149-page document was divided into six sections, providing an account of the history, current situation, and future aspirations of the state's education sector.
The report also highlighted the presence of 51 tertiary institutions in the state and identified 22,540 students with disabilities at the primary and secondary school levels. The plan outlines strategic priorities covering access, equity, and inclusiveness; infrastructural sufficiency; quality and relevance; soft and hard skills development; system efficiency and management; sustainable resourcing and financing; and resilience and emergency response.
The initiative received support from the Malala Fund, with implementation collaboration through the Education Champions Network, comprising YouthHubAfrica, Onelife Initiative, ACE Charity, Invictus Africa, Education as a Vaccine, and AREAi. The plan is expected to guide education-sector priorities in Oyo State from 2026 to 2030, with its impact depending on how effectively the government and relevant stakeholders translate its objectives into action.
Key points
- The Malala Fund and YouthHubAfrica have supported Oyo State's Education Sector Plan (2026-2030) to improve access, equity, and quality of education.
- Oyo State has 2,774,210 students enrolled in 10,624 public and private schools across its 33 local government areas.
- The plan outlines strategic priorities to address educational needs and improve opportunities for learners across the state.
