As public primary and secondary schools in Oyo State reopen on Thursday, July 2, 2026, following the suspension of an indefinite strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the atmosphere is one of cautious optimism mixed with pressing concerns.
The NUT directed teachers to resume duties after weeks of withdrawal triggered by the May 15 abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, including Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and others in the area.
The union suspended the action following engagements with the State government, which provided assurances on intensified rescue efforts, the establishment of a Joint Security Task Force for vulnerable schools, psychosocial support, infrastructure upgrades, and other safety measures under the Safe Schools Initiative.
While teachers are urged to remain vigilant and report threats, the return to classrooms highlights deeper, longstanding challenges in Oyo’s education sector that must be addressed urgently to prevent future disruptions.
The abduction crisis exposed vulnerabilities in rural and semi-rural schools, particularly near forest areas prone to banditry. Therefore, teachers and parents remain traumatized, with many reluctant to send children back without visible improvements.
Therefore, urgent needs from government and other education stakeholders include, sustained deployment of joint security patrols around schools and access roads, upgrading perimeter fencing and emergency response systems.
We also need community intelligence networks and speedy prosecution of suspects arrested for kidnapping and sundry criminal offenses, to serve as deterrence to those that might want to join the crime ring within these communities.
Government should address underlying issues like illegal mining and open grazing in forest reserves. Many videos are on the internet where illegal mining activities are ongoing in Kusa, Itesiwaju Local Government, Igbeti, the reserve forest and some other communities in Oke-Ogun and Oyo State in general.
Without tangible progress, confidence could erode quickly, risking further withdrawals or low attendance.
This is why Oyo State Government should also empower its agencies like Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA), State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBUB), Ministry of Education and Technology, Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), among others, to intensify efforts in providing more facilities, especially in these rural community schools, as well as psychosocial support for the pupils and their teachers to boost their morale.
The State has made strides, renovating scores of schools and approving funds like N8.7 billion (first tranche) for teaching and learning materials. However, with over 2,500 primary schools, scaling up classroom construction, boreholes, desks, and maintenance is critical.
Despite recruitment drives that have doubled secondary school staff and brought thousands back into the system, shortages persist in rural postings. Issues like reluctance of teachers to serve in insecure or remote areas remain.
It is pertinent to note that capacity building, better incentives for rural service, and prompt payment of entitlements would boost morale and retention.
The recent approval for billions in learning materials is welcome, but consistent supply of textbooks, desks, and digital tools is also needed.
Out-of-school children numbers have dropped significantly under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, so, for the sake of the loss of learning period experienced in the last weeks, catch-up programs for lost learning time, school feeding, and support for girls’ education (including menstrual hygiene) are vital to sustain enrollment gains.
“He who opens a school door, closes a prison.”- Victor Hugo says.
It is time for community involvement through School-Based Management Committees, technology for security and learning, and sustained budget priority. We should remember that it is only if our school are safe that our futures are safe.
Governor Makinde’s government has demonstrated commitment through reforms, teacher recruitment, and infrastructure efforts. The current resumption offers an opportunity to build on these by translating assurances into visible actions.
As teachers and students return, the focus must shift from crisis response to long-term resilience. Safe, well-equipped schools are not just an educational need—they are foundational to Oyo State’s future.
Parents, government, security agencies, and communities must collaborate to ensure this new term marks a turning point, not another cycle of disruption. The children of Oyo deserve nothing less.
Alhazan Abiodun Rilwan is the Deputy Director, Information Archives, Oyo State Ministry of Information, Ibadan.
