Reopening of schools: Oyo teachers ignore Ajimobi’s order

By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
Contrary to the directive by Governor Abiola Ajimobi, primary and secondary schools teachers in Oyo state ignored the reopening of all the public schools in the state for academic activities.
New Nigerian visit to most of the public primary and secondary schools in Ibadan revealed that the schools still remain shut with weeds already taking over the premises of most of the schools premises.
At the schools, particularly the secondary schools, their classrooms and offices were firmly locked with neither the teachers nor the students at sight.
It was learnt that few students that reported for school in line with the reopening of the schools returned home disappointed having waited for hours without sighting their teachers.
When our Correspondent visited some of the public schools in Ibadan, the classrooms and the Staff rooms as well as the nooks and crannies of the schools were completely deserted.
Also, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela visited some Public Secondary Schools in the state to ascertain the level of compliance towards the re-opening of schools.
Speaking during the visit, Professor Olowofela said the rationale behind the closing of schools was due to the unruly behaviour of some students who went on rampage to destroy government property.
The Commissioner while debunking the rumour that the proposed policy direction on education “is aimed at privatizing its secondary schools” advised the students he met in the schools to take their studies seriously, saying as the leaders of tomorrow, government was not against any school or student.
Governor Ajimobi had last Saturday ordered that all public schools in Oyo state reopen on Monday with the exception of the 17 secondary schools in Ibadan that participated in the June 6, students demonstration.