Yusuf Oketola
THE directive by the Osun State Ministry of Education shutting down academic activities in public schools in 12 local governments in the state at the first week of resumption has met criticisms from different stakeholders in the state.
In a memo dated September 18, 2023 and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. M.A Jimoh, the ministry ordered public schools in Ifelodun, Odo-otin, Boripe, Ila, Boluwaduro, Ifedayo, Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Obokun and Oriade local governments to suspend academic activities to allow the teachers to participate in the ongoing staff audit exercise.
According to the memo, students in Ifelodun and Odo-Otin local governments were expected to stay away from school on September 19, 2022 while those in Boripe local government were excused from school on Wednesday.
In Ila, Boluwaduro and Ifedayo local governments, students won’t be in school today, Friday September 22 and those in Atakunmosa East and West, Ilesa East and West, Obokun and Oriade local governments will also stay at home on Tuesday, September 26 and 27, 2023 respectively.
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However, some stakeholders in the state have criticized the decision, blaming the government and consulting firm on slow pace of the exercise.
The stakeholders stated that shutting down academic activities is a reflection of insensitivity of the government to promoting functional education and also showed the incompetence of the consulting firm.
According to the Chairman of Committee For the Defence Of Human Rights (CDHR) in the state, Comrade Emmanuel Olowu, instead of shutting down academic activities, the government ought to ask the consulting firm to work after the school hour on Friday and Saturday.
He said: “The Osun staff audit has suffered a lot of hindrances right from the commencement of the exercise. Moreover, it is worthy of note that the challenges emanated from the part of the consulting firm handling the project.
“It is therefore important that the state government should ensure that companies which will be engaged for such significant projects are capable in terms of skill, personnel, and years of experience
“The state should note that this is not the first time a staff audit has been organised in the state and the process has never been as terrible as this.
“The mandatory stay away of the student from school in the first week of resumption when other students are already in class further reflected the incompetence of the consulting firm and the insensitivity of the government to promoting functional education.”
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
