Oyo students, teachers shun reopening order

Students and teachers of public schools in Oyo State, on Monday, defied the order given by the state government on re-opening of schools after about six weeks closure occasioned by the protest by some students in the state.

Some of the school visited were locked while many people sighted at the premises were either school guard or miscreant who are hibernating in the premises due to its non-functional status.

Weeds have overgrown major part of the premises while some classroom were littered with debris and human defecation.

Meanwhile, in order to widen the scope of consultation to accommodate more suggestions and models, in addition to the ones presented and discussed at ‎the Oyo State government Stakeholders’ Form on Education reform, the state government has constituted an Education Reform Initiative Committee.

The State governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, who disclosed this while addressing journalist at the Exco chambers, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan, said the committee comprise 31 members from different sectors.

Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Otunba Moses Alake-Adeyemo listed the members as follows: Education expert (Chairman), University of Ibadan (Nominee Member), National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria (two members), Nigeria Labour Congress and Nigeria Union of Teachers (two members), All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (two members), National Association of Nigerian Student (two members) and Market Advisory Council (two members).

Others includes; Christian Association of Nigeria (two members), Muslim Community of Oyo State (two members), Community leaders (two members), Private Sector Education Practitioners (two members), Traditional rulers (two members), Commissioner for Education (two members), Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Civil/Public servants (three members), Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Information, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Nigeria Union of Journalist (one member) and a Secretary to be provided by the Ministry of Education.

Also, following the ongoing strike action by workers in the state, a 14-man committee set up by the state government after a reconciliatory ‎meeting of government and labour leaders will be inaugurated today at the executive chambers secretariat.

The committee will include seven members each from government and labour union to resolve the impasse between them.