KEY POINTS

• Public schools in Oyo State remain closed as the NUT strike, which began on June 1 over the abduction of teachers and pupils, continues.
• Parents and teachers say the prolonged shutdown is exposing children to idleness, street activities and negative influences.
• Stakeholders are urging the government to resolve the crisis quickly and strengthen security in schools.

The ongoing indefinite strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State has continued to disrupt academic activities across public primary and secondary schools, sparking growing concerns among parents and education stakeholders over its impact on children.

The strike, which began on June 1, was declared following the abduction of teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15. Since then, classrooms have remained empty, leaving thousands of pupils and students out of school.

Parents and teachers who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Wednesday lamented the effects of the prolonged closure, warning that many children have become idle and are increasingly vulnerable to negative influences.

A teacher, Mrs Yemisi Alao, expressed concern over the lack of adequate supervision for many children while schools remain shut. According to her, some pupils spend their days without meaningful activities as parents leave home for work.

She noted that even children placed under apprenticeship schemes have not fully embraced the opportunity to learn vocational skills, adding that the absence of structured learning was affecting discipline among young people.

She warned that the strike had interrupted a crucial stage of the academic calendar

Alao also warned that the strike had interrupted a crucial stage of the academic calendar and could make it difficult for schools to recover lost time when classes eventually resume.

She urged communities and parents to become more involved in guiding children by encouraging reading, sports and other productive engagements.

In Mokola, Ibadan, a parent, Mr Godwin Obinna, said the prolonged closure had pushed many children onto the streets, where some engage in hawking and spend hours roaming around.

He said his own children had become anxious over the uncertainty surrounding their education and called on the government to take urgent steps to end the impasse and strengthen security around schools.

Another parent, Mrs Bolajoko Yusuf, said many children in her neighbourhood had turned to football and recreational activities to occupy themselves.

The strike has effectively paralysed academic activities in public schools across Oyo State, prompting renewed calls for urgent government intervention to restore normalcy and improve security measures to protect teachers and students.