The Oyo State Government has announced the reopening of public schools across the state following their closure for several weeks over a violent protest by students and teachers.
The schools were scheduled to resume on Monday, July 11, 2016, according to a statement issued by the then Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Toye Arulogun.
However, 17 schools whose students were involved in the protest would remain closed until their principals and managements submitted written undertakings to the government that students under their care would not engage in or be used for violent activities.
The government also directed students of the affected schools to tender written apologies through their respective school managements.
According to Arulogun, the decision followed several appeals from the Parents-Teachers Association, community leaders, religious leaders, traditional rulers and other prominent Nigerians at home and abroad.
He said the government had taken the decision to reopen the schools after carefully considering the various representations.
The commissioner recalled the events of Monday, June 6, 2016, when students and teachers from some schools allegedly engaged in violent demonstrations that resulted in the destruction of government property, as well as property belonging to individuals and corporate organisations.
He said the incident threatened the peace and security of the state and endangered the lives of students who participated in the protest.
Arulogun explained that the government consequently shut public schools across Oyo State as a precautionary measure to safeguard the lives of students and protect lives and property.
He said the decision was in line with the government’s responsibility to maintain peace and security across the state.
While announcing the reopening, the commissioner stressed the importance of discipline and good conduct among students, describing them as future leaders who must be properly guided and moulded.
The government, he added, remained committed to ensuring the security and safety of lives and property throughout the state.
The 17 Affected Schools
The schools excluded from the reopening order were:
● Baptist Secondary School, Senior and Junior, Oke-Ado, Ibadan
● Ansarudeen Secondary School, Liberty Road, Ibadan
● Ansarudeen High School, Liberty Road, Ibadan
● Ibadan Grammar School, Senior and Junior, Molete, Ibadan
● Olubi Memorial Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan
● St. Luke Grammar School, Senior and Junior, Molete, Ibadan
● St. Luke College, Molete, Ibadan
● Yejide Girls Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan
● Methodist Grammar School, Senior and Junior, Bodija, Ibadan
● Methodist Secondary School, Bodija (Favos), Ibadan
● Oba Akinyele Memorial High School, Bashorun, Idi-Ape, Ibadan
● Ikolaba Grammar School, Agodi, Ibadan
● Ikolaba Secondary School, Agodi, Ibadan
● Ikolaba High School, Agodi, Ibadan
● Lagelu Grammar School, Agugu, Ibadan
● Okebadan High School, Oluyoro, Ibadan
● Ibadan Boys High School, Okebola, Ibadan
It would be recalled that thousands of public school students in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, had taken to the streets to protest the state government’s proposed public-private partnership (PPP) plans for managing schools, as well as the non-payment of teachers’ salaries at the time.
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