By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
Oyo State Government has closed five public secondary schools in the state following the protest that greeted the cancellation of automatic promotion in public schools by the government.
New Nigerian gathered that during the protest in Oyo township, no fewer than 3 classrooms were burnt by the rioting students.
Addressing newsmen, Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Adeniyi Olowofela declared that the five schools were shut indefinitely by the government.
Professor Olowofela gave the names of the shut schools as Community Secondary School, Iyana Idi-Ose; Ojoo High School, Ojoo, Ibadan, Isale Oyo Community High School, Oyo, Anglican-Methodist Secondary School, Oyo and Oba Adeyemi High school, Oyo.
According to the Commissioner, there will be no going back in the enforcement of “no automatic promotion” policy for students from a class to the next higher class in all public schools in Oyo state.
Professor Olowofela noted that the “no automatic promotion” policy was contained in a circular sent to education stakeholders across the state on April 23, 2015, adding that” the effort was to address our examination preparedness strategy with the immediate cancellation of automatic promotion in all classes”.
The Commissioner lamented that it was unfortunate that some hoodlums parading themselves as student decided to cause mayhem in some schools, thereby disturbing the peace of the law abiding individuals in the schools.
While tasking well-meaning students and teachers to go about their studies, he declared that security agents across the state have been alerted of the development and are ready to maintain law and order.
“It is our moral responsibility and sacred duty to protect lives and properties of members of the public. Therefore, any hoodlum caught in any form of breach to public peace shall be dealt with according to the laws if the land. Because we are usually ill-prepared for external examinations, our state always come embarrassingly short, even behind states that are traditionally considered to be educationally backward.”
He then urged parents and guardians in and across the state to warn their wards to stay aware from all acts that could jeopardise their well-being by not allowing themselves to be used by the destructive elements.
