Growing concerns have emerged among parents and education stakeholders in Oyo State as the indefinite strike by public school teachers continues to keep thousands of pupils and students out of classrooms.
The industrial action, declared by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), began on June 1 following the abduction of teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
Since then, public primary and secondary schools across the state have remained shut.
Many parents and teachers who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Wednesday expressed worries over the impact of the prolonged closure on children’s education, safety and overall development.
A teacher, Mrs Yemisi Alao, criticised what she described as the lack of adequate supervision of children by some parents during the strike period.
According to her, many parents leave their children unattended while attending to work or business activities, exposing them to unproductive and potentially harmful influences.
She said some children placed under apprenticeship programmes were also failing to take their training seriously, warning that neglecting children’s educational and personal development could have long-term consequences.
Alao noted that the strike coincided with a crucial period in the academic calendar when schools were preparing for continuous assessment exercises.
She warned that when schools eventually resume, teachers may be forced to rush academic activities to make up for lost time.
While expressing hope for the safe release of the abducted teachers and pupils, she stressed the need for proactive measures to safeguard the future of all children.
She urged community members to engage young people in productive activities such as reading, sports and mentorship programmes to prevent them from being drawn into negative behaviours.
A parent, Mr Godwin Obinna, lamented the effects of the school closure on children in his community, saying many now spend their days roaming the streets while others accompany their parents to hawk goods.
According to him, his children have become increasingly anxious about the uncertainty surrounding their education.
Obinna called on the Oyo State Government to urgently resolve the issues that triggered the strike and strengthen security arrangements in schools to prevent future incidents.
He emphasised the need for measures that would restrict unauthorised access to school premises and guarantee the safety of both learners and teachers.
Another parent, Mrs Bolajoko Yusuf, said families in her Yemetu neighbourhood had adopted a collective approach to monitoring children during the strike.
She explained that neighbours often watch over children while their parents are away at work, ensuring they remain safe and avoid conflicts.
Yusuf said many children now spend their days playing football, singing and engaging in other recreational activities due to the prolonged school closure.
Similarly, Mrs Adeola Aina said she enrolled her children in tailoring apprenticeships 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, have been the most affected by the disruption.
According to her, many of them spend their days playing around neighbourhoods, often under the care of neighbours or, in some cases, left largely unsupervised.
For Mrs Tunrayo Adeyemo, whose family resides in the Total Garden area of Ibadan, the situation has been frustrating.
She said her children now spend most of their time playing after completing household chores and expressed disappointment that they remain at home when they should be receiving formal education.
Adeyemo said parents could only hope and pray for the safe release of the abducted pupils and teachers so that normal academic activities could resume.
As the strike enters another week, concerns continue to mount over learning losses, child welfare and the broader implications of prolonged school closures on public education in Oyo State.
