The Oyo state government on Thursday began the demolition of dilapidated blocks of classrooms in the state.
The demolition kicked off with such structures in schools in Ibadan, the state capital. The first school to be affected, according to reports, was Ibadan Municipal Government (IMG) Primary School I, Mokola.
Speaking on the demolition exercise, the state Commissioner for Education, Prof Adeniyi Olowofela, said the government plans to rehabilitate and construct public schools.
He said the sum of N5.6 billion has been earmarked for the rehabilitation project which will affect 200 dilapidated schools structures across the state.
He, however, pointed out that the demolition exercise is at no cost to the state government as it is being carried out by contractors as a form of corporate social responsibility.
“Government has identified school structures that requires re-construction and rehabilitation, particularly some built in the 1950s with mud and cannot stand the test of time.
“The state government has approved two billion for the construction and rehabilitation of 100 dilapidated secondary school structures while the remaining N3.6 billion will be used for primary schools,’’ he said.
The commissioner stated that the state government is also spending on building infrastructures like roads and model schools, some of which would be ready soon.