Although a pic or microcontroller is an easy way to do the task...
I believe the aim of this lesson is to use the simplest devices which will do the job.
An op amp is a convenient way to detect the sensor's resistance in strong or dim light.
The signal conditioning circuit is really more like a wheatstone bridge.
It detects the voltage differential on the sensor, then amplifies it, then turns the led on or off.
In other words, the op amp decides by analog calculation. The pic makes the decision by digital / programming calculation.