Oyo Teachers' Industrial Action: Parents Worry Over Idle Children, Academic Delays

The ongoing indefinite industrial action initiated by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State is causing considerable distress among parents and other education stakeholders, who are concerned about its repercussions on students. Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Wednesday, various parents and educators highlighted that the prolonged closure of public schools has left numerous children without supervision, making them vulnerable to negative influences and disrupting their academic progress.

The NUT had issued a directive for all teachers in public primary and secondary schools across Oyo State to commence an indefinite strike starting June 1. This decision was a direct response to the abduction of teachers and pupils that occurred on May 15 in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Mrs. Yemisi Alao, a teacher, expressed her dismay regarding what she perceived as some parents' indifferent approach to their children's future. She observed that during the strike, certain parents leave their children unattended while they pursue their jobs or businesses. "Many parents, due to ignorance, neglect their children's future. They believe the government is solely responsible for everything, without any effort from their side," Mrs. Alao stated. She added that "The children are not properly monitored, and even those placed under apprenticeship are not serious about learning their trade."

Mrs. Alao described the situation as regrettable, noting that the country frequently reacts to problems instead of implementing proactive solutions for children's well-being. "While we pray and trust God for the safe return of the abducted children, we must also ensure measures are in place to safeguard every child's future," she urged. She further pointed out that the strike commenced at a crucial time, just as continuous assessment exercises were scheduled to begin. According to her, when schools eventually resume, there might be a hurried attempt to complete the curriculum. "This is a collective call to action. People should be interested in mentoring children around them and engaging them meaningfully with books, sports, and other productive activities so that their minds will be occupied with positive ideas rather than fraudulent ones," she emphasized.

In a similar vein, Mr. Godwin Obinna, a parent residing in the Mokola area of Ibadan, reported that the strike has resulted in many children wandering the streets, with others resorting to hawking goods for their families. "My children are already anxious and keep asking if they will never go to school again," he shared. "I keep reassuring them that this situation is temporary and things will improve. This entire situation is unjust," he lamented. Mr. Obinna implored the state government to redouble its efforts to resolve the underlying issues that triggered the strike and to bolster security measures within school premises. "The government should implement adequate security protocols in schools to prevent unauthorized access," he advised.

Mrs. Bolajoko Yusuf, another parent from the Alaadorin area of Yemetu, observed that many children now spend their days engaging in leisure activities such as playing football and singing. She mentioned that parents in her community have adopted a communal approach to supervising children during the strike. "What we do in my neighbourhood is watch over the children and ensure they are safe because not all parents can stay at home," Mrs. Yusuf explained. "Parents usually leave instructions for their wards before going to work to play safe and avoid fighting," she added.

Mrs. Adeola Aina, a resident of the Nalende area of Ibadan, shared that she had enrolled her older children in tailoring apprenticeships to keep them busy and shield them from negative influences. However, she noted that younger children, aged between three and seven, who are too young for such programs, are the most adversely affected by the school closure. "They just play around while their parents leave them in the care of neighbours or sometimes alone," she said.

Similarly, Mrs. Tunrayo Adeyemo, living in the Total Garden area, stated that her children spend most of their day playing after completing their household chores. "We are not happy that our children are at home when they ought to be in school, but there is nothing we can do about it," she expressed. "We can only pray that the abducted children are released soon."