Oyo teachers’ strike leaves pupils idle, worries parents

The indefinite strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State has sparked concerns among parents and education stakeholders over its impact on pupils and students.

Parents and teachers who spoke with newsmen in Ibadan on Wednesday said the prolonged closure of public schools had left many children idle, exposed to negative influences and disrupted their academic activities.

The NUT had directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in the state to embark on an indefinite strike from June 1 following the abduction of teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.

A teacher, Mrs Yemisi Alao, lamented what she described as the nonchalant attitude of some parents toward their children’s future, saying many wards had been left unattended while their parents went to work.

“Ignorance has led many parents to neglect their children’s future. The children are not well monitored, and some of those placed under apprenticeship are also not serious about learning the trade,” she said.

Alao noted that the strike came at a critical period when pupils and students were preparing for continuous assessment exercises, warning that academic activities might be rushed when schools eventually resume.

She urged communities to engage children in meaningful activities such as reading and sports to keep them occupied and away from negative influences.

A parent in the Mokola area of Ibadan, Mr Godwin Obinna, said many children had been left roaming the streets, while others were hawking goods for their parents.

“My children keep asking whether there will be no schooling again. I keep reassuring them that the situation is temporary and things will get better. This whole situation is unfair,” he said.

Obinna called on the state government to resolve the issues that led to the strike and strengthen security measures in schools.

Another parent, Mrs Bolajoko Yusuf, said many children in her neighbourhood now spend their days playing football, singing and engaging in other leisure activities.

She said parents in the area had adopted a community 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,” she said.

Mrs Adeola Aina, a resident of the Nalende area of Ibadan, said she enrolled her wards in tailoring apprenticeships to keep them occupied and away from negative influences.

She, however, noted that younger children between the ages of three and seven were the worst affected by the school closure.

Similarly, Mrs Tunrayo Adeyemo of the Total Garden area said her children now spend most of their day playing after completing 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. We can only pray that the abducted children are released soon,” she said.