The Edo State government, led by Governor Godwin Obaseki, has announced an indefinite postponement of the resumption of all schools in the state due to the recent increase in fuel prices.
In a memo issued by the
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Ojo Akin-Longe, on Saturday
in Benin, the resumption date, which was originally set for September 9, has
been deferred until further notice.
“The Edo State Government
hereby announces that the resumption of all public and private schools in Edo
State, initially scheduled for Monday, September 9, 2024, has been postponed
until further notice,” Akin-Longe stated.
Akin-Longe added, “This
decision has been made in response to the rising tension and challenges
resulting from the recent fuel price increase.”
The government advised parents,
guardians, and caregivers to closely supervise their children and wards during
this period of uncertainty.
Meanwhile, the opposition All
Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has criticised the government's
decision on the indefinite suspension of school resumption date, calling it "costly
political maneuvering."
The APC's Publicity Secretary
in the state, Peter Uwadiae-Enosorogbe, in an interview with the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) condemned the move, saying that the state government should not
jeopardise children's education for political reasons.
Uwadiae-Enosorogbe said, “It’s
unacceptable to sacrifice our children's education because of fuel price
hikes,” adding, “Fuel prices have fluctuated before, and we should not allow
this to disrupt the educational system.”
He pointed out that there has
been no significant outcry from parents or protests regarding fuel prices
affecting school attendance, making the government's decision seem illogical.
He said “The state government
has made a grave error. This decision is not in the best interest of the
students, parents, or the educational system as a whole,”
Uwadiae-Enosorogbe urged a
reversal of the decision, noting that education in the state has already
suffered under the previous PDP administration.
He highlighted that recent
results from the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)
ranked Edo 26th, a sharp decline from its previous top positions.
“How will the government
compensate for the additional time students will miss from school? Meanwhile,
parents have not complained about their ability to send their children to
school,” he added.
Uwadiae-Enosorogbe then called
on stakeholders to persuade the government to reopen schools, stressing that it
was unreasonable to keep students at home when parents had already paid school
fees and purchased textbooks.
According to him, “The children
are eager to return to class, and the government should not use political
strategies to hinder their education. This action is a mistake, and it serves
no one’s interest.”
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