CSOs visit Osun over schools merger crisis
Some
civil society organisations have said they will be meeting with certain
groups and individuals to end the schools merger crisis in Osun State.
Among the groups to be met are the Osun
Parents Association, Association of Principals; National Union of
Teachers, Nigeria Labour Congress, Head of Teachers of Primary Schools,
the Baptist Missionary and Osun State Government.
Christian and Muslim groups in Osun have
taken on themselves over the move by the Governor Rauf Aregbesola
administration to merge public schools in the state in line with its
newly introduced 4-5-3 system of education.
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, Mr.
Olarenwaju Suraju, explained that they would be meeting the aggrieved
parties to find a lasting solution to the merger problem.
He said, “Our plan is to undertake a
thorough assessment of the true situation beyond media reports. The
proposed three-day assessment tour and meetings will be undertaken by no
fewer than 10 representatives’ of leading different civil society
groups, comprising of Christians and Muslims across the country.
“We will seek to engage with the two
divides not with the intention to apportion blames but to deepen the
understanding of issues by our team and the two divides. This is to make
for the inevitable re-appreciation of the issues in different
quarters.”
He, however, urged the aggrieved party to resolve the crisis in the interest of unity and peace in the state.
“From our investigation, the schools
have been taken over in the last 36 years. The only thing that was
retained is the name of the school, not the owners. We want to go and
bridge the gap and not predict the outcome,” he added.
Also, Programme Coordinator, Network on
Police Reforms in Nigeria, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, said, “We will report
out findings in the best and credible manner. It is to defend democracy
and not only Osun State. Public hearing is critical to acceptance,
government must consult and the media must go beyond the visible.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/csos-visit-osun-over-schools-merger-crisis/
October 18, 2013 by Sodiq Oyeleke
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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