Why Oyo state government shut down public schools

Following the crisis rocking the Oyo state education sector, the State government, on Monday, announced that it has set up a thirty-one member Education Reform Initiative Committee to broaden the scope of the management of the public schools.

This was disclosed by the Deputy Governor of the state, Moses Alake Adeyemo, who represented the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, at a press conference at Ibadan, the state capital.

Adeyemo said, “The Education Initiative Stakeholders’ Forum held on June 7, 2016 resolved, amongst other things, to widen the scope of consultation to accommodate more suggestions and models in addition to the ones presented and discussed.
“Sequel to this, proposals and memoranda have been received from members of the public on the urgent need for the participatory management of public secondary schools in Oyo State.
“This administration has, therefore, constituted an education reform initiative committee comprising 31 members. The inauguration of the committee is scheduled for Tuesday, July 12, 2016.”
Members of the committee include: an education chairman, who will serve as the committee chairman, two two nominees each from the University of Ibadan and the National Parents/Teachers’ Association of Nigeria.
Adeyemo said that two members each were also being expected from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)/Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT); All Nigerian Congress of Principals of Public Schools (ANCOPPS); National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Market Advisory Council; Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); and the Muslim community.
Membership of the committee also included community leaders, private sector education practitioners/consultants, traditional rulers, relevant state commissioners, permanent secretary in the ministry of education, as well as the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
Speaking on the ongoing industrial action by the state’s workforce, Adeyemo said that the committee will seek ways to bring the crisis to an end.
He, however, noted that the crisis will be resolved soon, saying that the decision of the state government to close the school was ‘without prejudice to the workers’ and teachers strike.
He said, “We shut the schools to prevent our children from harm and now that the dust has settled we have reopened the schools. It is left to the members of the public to determine who is now still responsible for the continued staying of our children at home.
“I seize this opportunity to enlist the cooperation of all stakeholders and members of the public in ensuring that the progress of this state, which our government advocates, effectively plans and pursues as programmed in our restoration, transformation and re-positioning agenda, is realized.”
The deputy governor said that the 17 schools, where there was violence and destruction, will remain shut until the school management and student apologize.

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