Oyo state government has partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to train teachers on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Programmes in schools.
The training started from 12th June and ended on the 22nd of June 22 with the attendance of teachers drawn from Egbeda and Ona Ara local government areas of the state.
The state government through its agencies, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (OYORUWASSA) and Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB) partnered with UNICEF for the two-week training.
The WASH in and through schools project is established to facilitate hygiene promotion in schools and by extension in the community. The programme was designed to meet some of the education response towards the actualization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The focus of WASH in School is geared towards the creation of a child-friendly school environment for the enhancement of quality educational outcomes where children are healthy and able to learn.
The training of trainers and step-down training on WASH in Schools has the objective of building capacity of State, Local Government Area WASH unit and Local Government Education officers who will be trainers in the training of the teachers for them to implement it in their various schools.
Some of the participants at the 2-week long training were Mr. Monday Johnson (UNICEF WASH Specialist ), Dr. Emmanuel Orebiyi (UNICEF WASH Consultant), State Level Officers from RUWASSA, SUBEB, Min. of Education, Min. of Health, LGA WASH Units, LGEA Officers, Sir Jide Dada and Mrs. Freda Ukpabi who are National Resource Persons.
While speaking, Mr Dairo Jacob, Director, School Services, OYOSUBEB asserted that the agency would cascade the training among teachers and schools in the state to achieve the set objective.
Also speaking, Mr Gbadamosi Kazeem, SBMC member, Ona Ara LG appreciated the organisers for facilitating ways necessary to maintain a healthy environment using child to child strategy.
Meanwhile Mr Adewale Azeez, a Teacher at Atolu Model School, Oremeji said that the teachers are well equipped to step down those knowledge gained to their various schools and immediate environment.
Also, Mrs Adeyemi Olufunke, Head teacher, Community Primary School, Adewolu expressed that the training is such an enlightenment programme towards living in an healthy environment in the School as well as the community in a bid to ensure hygienic living
