Baptists protest merger of schools in Osun •We considered all interests before merger - Govt

 

Members of Baptist Churches in Iwo, embarked on demonstration, on Monday morning, shutting down Baptist High School, Adeke, denouncing the new education system, just as  they vowed to resist it with all available measures.

Nigerian Tribune investigation indicated that the protest was allegedly sparked  off by the merger of some pupils from Muslim schools to Baptist High School, Adeke, in Iwo, a development which heightened tension in the ancient town.

The protest in Iwo followed a similar demonstration last week Wednesday, by students of Baptist Girls’ High School, Osogbo, who shut their gates against male students of Fakunle Comprehensive High School (FCHS) who were merged with them as a result of the new educational policy.

Nigerian Tribune authoritatively gathered that as early as 7.30 a.m on Monday, protesting Christians in Iwo, stormed Baptist High School, Adeke of the town and locked out all students including non- Christian students and teachers redeployed to the school as a fallout of the merger policy.

But, in a swift reaction, the state government said that they had taken into consideration the interests of all stakeholders in the implementation of the merger, which culminated in the re-classification of schools.

However, the Christians, who were dominated by the Baptist members, said they had concluded arrangements to vehemently resist the state government’s move to merge Baptist High School, Iwo with hijab wearing ones, expressing reservation over the policy,  which according to them,  was aimed at erasing traces of ownership of the schools originally owned by missionaries.
Armed with Holy Bibles and hymns books, public address systems, the christians displayed  banners with inscription that read: “Baptist Say No To Merger of Schools”, “Baptists Say  No to Wearing of Hijab in all its schools”.

The demonstrators converted the frontage of the school into a prayer ground, while principal, students and staff who were supposed to resume work at 8,oo a.m of the day were locked outside.

One of the choruses rendered by them was “The Lord that delivers Daniel, The Lord that delivers Daniel from the den of lion, why can’t you deliver us from this oppression and humiliation.”

Following the development, some students were spotted roaming streets of the town, while others clustered around to discuss the matter, wondering  how the crisis would be resolved.

But, around  8.00a.m, a combined team of plain cloth security men  and policemen in uniform  arrived the scene in a saloon wine colour  Volkswagen Golf car, marked AE 969 JER to appeal to the Christians to allow students and staff entry into the school, but their pleas yielded no results.

The demonstration caused traffic gridlock and Baptist royal ambassador of the church turned traffic warden to control movement of vehicles, motor cycles and others to give room for the free flowing of movements.

Commenting on the development, the presiding minister for the 35 Baptist churches in Iwo land, Reverend (Dr.) Bayo Ademuyiwa, said “Our forefathers and missionaries sacrificed their lives, resources and of course everything to establish schools, reputable schools with morals and values and that is why the Baptists in Iwo land are here to protect our schools.”

He added that: “Without any doubt, the Baptist in the state are known for excellence, decorum and dignity. These virtues are highly cherished by the Nigerian Baptist Convention and this is the reason why the Baptists are making these two submissions which are: ‘Baptists in Iwo land say no to merger of schools and Baptists in Iwo land say no to the use of Hijab in Baptists schools.’

“While we welcome genuine efforts to provide modern infrastructures and equipments in schools in Osun State,  the Baptists see merger of schools as a step in the wrong direction as it will rob us of our identity and bring more pains to parents and students”.

However, the state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, while reacting to the protest said that his administration had taken into cognizance the interests of all stakeholders before implementing the re-classification of schools, just as he implored parents, irrespective of religious beliefs, to support the new education system.

In a statement signed by his Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, yesterday, he said the reform currently going on in the state was aimed at putting education on solid pedestal and secure the future of the children.

According to Aregbesola, “everybody should collaborate with the government and not to allow themselves to be used as agents to slow down the speedy recovery of the education sector that is currently being witnessed in the state”.

He continued: “A few parents whom the administration perceived not to be fully informed on the beauty of the scheme, had put up some resistance in one school in Iwo and the state capital, Osogbo.”

“In this kind of scheme, it is not unexpected that there would be apprehensions, knowing well that change is the most difficult thing for people to adjust to. Our people eulogise and long for good education standards across the world and would wish it for their children. However, the hard reality is that these positive changes must involve some alterations in our current depressing system to bring about the new generation of well-educated, trained citizens that will take our state to higher heights. It is in the light of these that we are resolute in going ahead with the best policy for the future of our children,” Aregbesola remarked.

While admitting that his administration was not unaware of little inconveniences the reforms could bring about to parents and the pupils, the governor observed that such inconveniences are just a passing phase, which will pale into insignificance if compared to the huge benefits of the new system, both in the short and in the long terms.