Nigerian Tribune reliably gathered that pupils of the schools shut their main gates against the pupils of Fakunle Comprehensive High School (FCHS), who were merged with their school by the state government as a result of the new educational policy, also known as 4-5-3 education system.
The development came as Governor Rauf Aregbesola inaugurated the newly constructed Salvation Army Middle School, Alekuwodo, Osogbo, to mark the commencement of the new educational policy and resumption for 2013/2014 academic calendar year.
Credible sources informed the Nigerian Tribune that pupils of Baptist Girls’ High School contended that they could not allow male students to be merged with their school, exclusively populated by female from the its inception in 1956.
The protest staged by the students drew the attention of policemen, who stormed the school premises around 9.15 a.m to restore normalcy.
Worried by the development, the state deputy governor, Mrs Titi-Laoye Tomori, who also doubles as the Commissioner for Education, had to come to the school premises around 10.35 a.m to appeal to the pupils to cooperate with the merger policy.
But, the Osun State Baptist Convention said it would not allow pupils of Fakunle Comprehensive High School to be merged with the Baptist Girls’ High School.
According to the Christian Education Department Officer of the Baptist Conference, Osun State, Reverend Bisi Oluwadamilare, “the stand of the Baptist is that we would not allow male students to be merged or mingled with our students here.
“For God’s sake, this is a female or girls’ school. How can you decide to bring male students here? We are not against the new educational system, but things must be done accordingly.”
While expressing the readiness of the Baptist Conference to enter into dialogue with the state government, he said “pupils of FCHS would be allowed to stay today (Wednesday), considering the pleas by the deputy governor, so that they would not roam the streets. But, from tomorrow, we would not allow them in.”
Similarly, pupils of the Baptist High School, Ede, also staged a peaceful demonstration against the re-classification of schools.
Aregbesola, donning public school uniform with a brown fez cap, taught the pupils of the newly commissioned Salvation Army Middle School inside one of the classrooms and also explained the need for the re-classification of school.
He said there was the need to maximise the resources of the state, adding the number of the pupils in the school justified the facilities put in place to enhance qualitative learning.
“Our dream is to make you all renowned scholars in the future, so that you can be pride to Osun State and the entire country,” he said.
Responding to question from a pupil on the source of his motivation, the governor said “the secret of my success is commitment and passion to achieve my set goals and objectives.
“That is why you too must be absolutely committed to your academic pursuit, so that you can be great in the future.”
At the inauguration of Salvation Army Middle school, Aregbesola said the new educational system was borne out of the educational summit organised by his administration when it came on board in 2010.
He disclosed that a sum of N14.67 billion had been earmarked for the construction of elementary, middle and high schools, to provide durable structures for the new educational system.
While describing as unfounded, allegation that the state was heavily indebted to financial institutions, Aregbesola said “in the recent financial reports of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), NDHS Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Osun was not listed among the states with heavy debts.”
He contended that the new educational system was aimed at addressing challenges in the state educational sector, to match up with the dynamic developments in the global community, just as he sued for the cooperation of all stakeholders.
However, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Osun State chapter, described reports that they had given their consent to the new educational policy as untrue.
In a press release issued and signed by the state CAN chairman, Reverend Elisha Olukayode Ogundiya, on Wednesday, the body said “we wish to explain it clearly that at no time has the new leadership of CAN in Osun held any meeting with the state government on the issue of merger of schools.
“Therefore, the statement that we gave our consent to the state government on this policy was untrue.”
The Christian body said all attempts by its leaders to meet with Governor Aregbesola to discuss the issue and other matters had been unsuccessful.
“For emphasis, CAN is not against any new educational policy being put in place by either the federal or the state government, but we vehemently kick against any educational programme that will obliterate the mission schools and affect our tenets of faith, particularly in the state.
“We have maintained this stand from inception and we will continue to defend lawfully what belong to us as Christians in the state.
“As a major stakeholder in the state, the leadership of CAN expects the state government to invite us to discuss this issue and other related one without delay,” the release said.
Source: Tribune
No comments:
Post a Comment