Return boarding system: Osun parents give Aregbesola five days ultimatum

Parents of public secondary school students in Osun State have given a
five-day ultimatum to the state government to return boarding
facilities to public schools where they existed before the
introduction of the new education system in the state.

The parents, under the aegis of the Parent/Teacher Association (PTA),
threatened to embark on protest if the government failed to return the
facilities before the end of the ultimatum.

The state Chairman of PTA, Dr. Ademola Ekundayo. who received the
protesting parents in his office in Osogbo, appealed for calm, saying
their request would be channelled to the appropriate quarters.

The parents, however, insisted that boarding schools should continue
as it was the situation before Governor Rauf Aregbesola closed all
boarding facilities in the state.

The state government had in its Schools Reclassification Programme
closed down the boarding system in public secondary schools.

Apparently uncomfortable with the new education system, parents had
called for a reverse of the system.

The PTA chairman, who also restated the need for the return of
boarding system to public schools, said the leadership of the
association had met with the state Deputy Governor, Mrs Grace Tomori,
on the matter.

He noted that the intention of the state government to hand over
boarding facilities in public schools to private investors would not
favour parents, as the financial implication of such system would be
cumbersome. He appealed to the state government to act fast on the
matter before the parents would protest against the system.