Oyo Teachers’ Strike Sparks Fears Over Learning Disruption, Child Safety

 Growing concerns have emerged among parents, teachers and education stakeholders in Oyo State over the prolonged closure of public schools following the indefinite strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

Many residents say the industrial action has disrupted academic activities and left thousands of pupils and students vulnerable to negative influences as they remain out of school.

The strike, which began on June 1, was declared by the NUT in response to the abduction of teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.

Speaking on the development in Ibadan on Wednesday, stakeholders expressed worries about the welfare and educational future of children affected by the shutdown of public primary and secondary schools.

A teacher, Mrs Yemisi Alao, criticised what she described as inadequate parental supervision during the strike period, noting that many children were being left unattended while their parents went about their daily activities.

According to her, some parents have failed to take sufficient responsibility for keeping their children engaged in productive activities during the school closure.

She warned that the situation could have long-term consequences on the development of affected children, especially those lacking proper guidance and monitoring.

Alao also noted that the strike occurred at a crucial stage of the academic calendar when schools were preparing for continuous assessment exercises.

She expressed concern that once schools reopen, teachers may be forced to rush through lessons in an effort to complete the curriculum.

The teacher urged communities to support children through mentorship, reading programmes, sports and other constructive engagements to prevent them from being drawn into harmful activities.

A parent, Mr Godwin Obinna, said the strike had resulted in many children spending their days on the streets, while some had joined their parents in petty trading and hawking.

He said his children had become increasingly anxious about their education and frequently asked when schools would resume.

Obinna called on the state government to expedite efforts to resolve the issues behind the strike and strengthen security arrangements in schools to prevent future incidents.

He stressed the need for tighter access controls and improved protection of school environments.

Another parent, Mrs Bolajoko Yusuf, said families in her Yemetu neighbourhood had adopted a collective approach to supervising children during the strike.

She explained that residents regularly monitored children in the area while parents were away at work, ensuring they remained safe and avoided conflicts.

Mrs Adeola Aina, a resident of Nalende, said she enrolled her children in tailoring apprenticeship programmes to keep them occupied and shield them from negative influences.

However, she noted that younger children, particularly those between the ages of three and seven, were facing greater challenges as they were too young to participate in vocational activities.

According to her, many of the younger pupils spend most of their time playing while being left in the care of neighbours or, in some cases, unsupervised.

Similarly, Mrs Tunrayo Adeyemo of the Total Garden area lamented that her children now spend much of their day engaged in recreational activities after completing household chores.

She said parents were unhappy about the disruption to their children's education but remained hopeful that the security concerns that triggered the strike would soon be addressed.

Stakeholders have continued to urge the government and relevant authorities to find a lasting solution to the crisis, warning that prolonged school closures could have serious implications for learning outcomes and child welfare across the state.