Oyo govt urges parents to return children to school after Oriire abduction
By Adejayan Gbenga
The Oyo State Government has appealed to parents in Oriire Local Government Area to ensure their children return to school as authorities intensify efforts to restore normal academic activities following a recent abduction incident in the area.
The appeal followed the continued absence of pupils of Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, who have yet to resume classes after the security incident. The state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, made the appeal on Tuesday during a working visit to rescued pupils, teachers and members of affected communities in Ahoro Dada.
Olayiwola, who led senior officials of the ministry to the affected communities, engaged pupils, teachers, parents, traditional rulers, security personnel and other stakeholders on measures to ensure the safe return of learners to school. At Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, the delegation observed that the school had yet to resume for the new academic session.
The commissioner expressed concern that some children in Yawota had remained out of school and were instead participating in skills-acquisition activities during school hours. He urged parents to remain committed to their children’s education and directed relevant officials to follow up on the affected learners and facilitate their return to school.
Olayiwola also directed the Director of Basic Education to liaise with the Nigerian Baptist Conference on possible interventions to support the school and prevent its closure, noting that the institution is privately owned by the conference. He further sought the continued support of traditional rulers in restoring normal educational activities in the affected communities.
At Esiele, the Elesinele of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abisoye, reaffirmed the palace’s support for schools and teachers, saying accommodation had been provided for government teachers. However, the monarch raised concerns about the continued use of the Primary Health Centre by military personnel as accommodation, saying it was affecting the activities of medical workers.
Similarly, at Ahoro-Esiele Community Grammar School, the commissioner directed the tutor general to facilitate the deployment of additional teachers following complaints about staff shortages, particularly in Mathematics. He also received an appeal from Parent-Teacher Association teachers seeking consideration for absorption into the Teaching Service Commission.
Olayiwola consequently directed the tutor general to prepare a submission on interested indigenes willing to teach in the community for onward consideration by the state government. The measures, according to the government, are aimed at restoring confidence in schools, strengthening education delivery and ensuring children affected by the security incident return to formal education.
