The Edo State Government has announced an indefinite postponement of the resumption of all public and private schools in the state due to the recent hike in fuel prices.
The decision was communicated through a memo by Ojo Akin-Longe, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, who stated, "The Edo State Government hereby announces the postponement of the resumption of all public and private schools in Edo State, originally scheduled for Monday, 9th September 2024, until further notice."
The government cited the rising tension and challenges faced by parents and guardians as the primary reasons for this decision. Akin-Longe urged parents, guardians, and caregivers to closely monitor their children and wards during this period.
However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State criticized the government's move, labeling it as "expensive political gimmickry."
Peter Uwadiae-Enosorogbe, the APC's Publicity Secretary, expressed his surprise at the decision, arguing that it was not in the best interest of the children or the educational system.
He stated, "You cannot sacrifice the education pursuit of the children for fuel scarcity. It is not today we are having a hike in fuel prices. This cannot derail the educational system."
Uwadiae-Enosorogbe called for the reversal of the decision, emphasizing that the educational sector in Edo had already suffered massively under the current administration.
He pointed out that the state's performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination had dropped to 26th place, compared to its previous first and second positions.
"If you now postpone resumption, how are you going to mitigate the time you have made them stay at home deliberately? Meanwhile, the parents are not complaining," he added.
The APC spokesperson urged stakeholders to prevail on the government to reopen schools, stating, "The children are eager to go back to classes to learn. So the government should not use political gimmickry to checkmate them. Edo government should be talked to, because the action is an aberration; the action is uncalled for; the action is not in the interest of anybody."
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