The Edo State Government has declared an indefinite postponement of the resumption of all educational institutions within the state, a decision attributed to the recent surge in fuel prices.
The announcement was made through an official memo by Ojo Akin-Longe, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, during a press release in Benin City, the state capital, on Saturday.
Initially slated for September 9, 2024, the resumption date has now been pushed back until further notice. Akin-Longe 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, September 9, 2024, until further notice.”
He elaborated that the closure of schools was necessitated by the heightened tensions arising from the recent fuel price increase, which has created significant challenges for parents and guardians.
However, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State chapter, has criticized the decision, labeling it “expensive political gimmickry.”
Peter Uwadiae-Enosorogbe, APC Publicity Secretary, expressed surprise at the government’s move, stating, “You cannot sacrifice the educational 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.”
He pointed out that the situation is not new and questioned the rationale behind the decision, noting that there have been no widespread protests or complaints from parents regarding the ability to send their children to school.
Uwadiae-Enosorogbe highlighted Edo’s declining education performance, citing the state’s 26th ranking in the recent West African Senior School Certificate Examination results.
“We urge stakeholders to prevail upon the government to reopen schools. It’s illogical to keep children at home when parents have paid school fees and purchased textbooks,” he emphasized.
The APC spokesperson called for a reversal of the decision, stressing that the government’s action is “an aberration” and “not in the interest of anybody.”
