Latest from Ahoro Esinele as school’s revival takes front row

Latest from Ahoro Esinele as school’s revival takes front row

Yinka ADETUNJI

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The Oyo state government is taking every measure to ensure springing back to life of the Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele in Oriire local government area of Ogbomoso, Oyo state, following the brutal attack by bandits in May this year and abduction and killing of some teachers. The victims spent 56 days in captivity before being rescued by a combined team of security operatives.

Since then, education has taken a nosedive in the community as teachers and students deserted the school. “That is gloomy,” a government official who pleaded anonymity told ogbomosoinsightonline.com.

However, government is not relenting in efforts to revive academic activities in the area. Permanent Secretaries/Inspectors General of Education from the Oyo state Ministry of Education, Science and Technologies have been on ground in the community to monitor the situation. This is as the Commissioner for Education, Olusegun Hon Olayiwola had personally made a visit since after schools resumed last week.

An acting principal, Mr. Olufemi Ogunkanmi, has been officially appointed to head the school, Ogbomoso Insight learned. He is a vice principal in the school previously.

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The Acting Principal confirmed the commissioner for education, the Permanent Secretaries/Inspectors General of Education, Directors, All Nigerian Confederation of Principal of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and other stakeholders are putting in everything to revive the school. “The Commissioner and the Permanent Secretaries and Directors were in the school last week along with the ANCOPSS leadership.”

Commissioner promises motorcycles

A major challenge is transportation to the school as all the teachers there reside in the Ogbomoso metropolis. “Getting to the school is a major predicament,” a teacher lamented. “I would live home at 7am and would not get to school until about 11am.”

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He disclosed the two teachers that were killed used to be their saving grace in transporting teachers to the school being owners of motorcycles, but now, none of us remaining possesses motorcycle.

However, the Commissioner for Education during his visit promised the state government would give motorcycles to the teachers to ease transportation.

The acting principal revealed the school is gradually coming back to life with the efforts of the ministry of education. “Out of about 120 students of the school, over forty students have now reported back in school. We hope the attendance will increase in the next few weeks.”

Soldiers stationed in the school, give free food to students

To throw security blanket over the community a military post is now in the school boasting over twenty army personnel. “They occupy our hall and some classes. It is reassuring as far as security of the area is concerned. Another team makes constant patrol of the corridor,” Ogunkanmi further said.

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This is as he commended the soldiers for their humanitarian services. “They daily distribute cooked rice to the students to boost their morale. They have been cooperative and are doing well.”

But the trauma remains

But then, the psychological hurt has refused to diffuse, it was learnt. “The traumatic experience is still heavy. Few days ago, a team of soldiers drove into the school suddenly, it resembled the way the bandits stormed the school in May, within a twinkle, all the students had bolted, fled into the bush thinking they were under attack again. That is the reality of our situation.”

It was also gathered that of the fifteen students of the school abducted and released, only one is still attending the school, “and that one too is always absent minded. He will just put his head on the table, removed from his environment,” Ogbomoso Insight was told by a teacher.

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“Really, no teacher who witnessed the banditry attack would be psychologically stable to remain in that school, but TESCOM has denied us transfer saying only we know the terrain,” another teacher informed, however pleading anonymity.

Meanwhile, all the teachers who were victims of the abduction had been transferred, but others are intact. The former principal, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, has likewise not returned.