Oyo NUT strike: Children idle, parents scramble as school shutdown enters third week

Since June 1, public primary and secondary schools across Oyo State have been locked. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) called the indefinite strike after gunmen abducted teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15. Three weeks later, parents say the shutdown is taking a heavy toll.

Mrs Yemisi Alao, a teacher, told the News Agency of Nigeria that many parents have been leaving their children unattended while they go to work. She blamed what she called a "nonchalant attitude" toward the children's future.

"Ignorance has led many parents to neglect their children's future. They believe the government should do everything without them lifting a finger."

Alao said the strike hit at a critical time — just before continuous assessment exams were due to begin. She warned that when schools finally reopen, teachers may rush through the curriculum to catch up.

A parent in the Mokola area of Ibadan, Mr Godwin Obinna, said his children are already worried. "They keep asking whether there will be no schooling again," he said. "I keep reassuring them that the situation is temporary and things will get better. This whole situation is unfair."

Obinna urged the state government to step up security in schools and resolve the issues behind the strike.

In Yemetu's Alaadorin area, Mrs Bolajoko Yusuf said children in her neighbourhood have turned to football and singing to pass the time. Parents there have set up a community supervision system — taking turns to watch over the kids while others work.

Mrs Adeola Aina, who lives in the Nalende area of Ibadan, enrolled her older children in tailoring apprenticeships to keep them busy. But she noted that younger children, between three and seven years old, are the worst affected. "They just play around while their parents leave them in the care of neighbours or sometimes alone," she said.

Mrs Tunrayo Adeyemo of the Total Garden area said her children spend most of the day playing after finishing household chores. "We aren't happy that our children are at home when they ought to be in school, but there's nothing we can do about it," she said. "We can only pray that the abducted children are released soon."

The NUT hasn't announced any plans to call off the strike, and the Oyo State government has yet to issue a statement on next steps. Meanwhile, thousands of children remain out of school, and parents are left to figure out what to do.