In an official communication by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Ojo Akin-Longe, issued on Saturday in Benin, the previously scheduled resumption date of September 9 has been postponed indefinitely due to recent increases in fuel prices.
Governor Godwin Obaseki's administration in Edo State announced this decision to defer the reopening of all schools in response to the heightened tensions and challenges arising from the escalation in fuel prices.
Ojo Akin-Longe, in the memo, stated, "The Edo State Government hereby announces that the resumption of all public and private schools in Edo State, initially scheduled for Monday, September 9, 2024, has been postponed until further notice."
Akin-Longe further explained, "This decision has been made in response to the rising tension and challenges resulting from the recent fuel price increase." The government advised parents, guardians, and caregivers to provide closely supervised care for their children and wards during this period of uncertainty.
Conversely, the opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC), in the state has criticized the government's decision to indefinitely suspend the school resumption date, labeling it as "costly political maneuvering."
Peter Uwadiae-Enosorogbe, the APC's Publicity Secretary in the state, conveyed disapproval of the move, stating, "It’s unacceptable to sacrifice our children's education because of fuel price hikes." He added, "Fuel prices have fluctuated before, and we should not allow this to disrupt the educational system." Uwadiae-Enosorogbe mentioned the absence of significant outcry from parents or protests regarding fuel prices affecting school attendance, branding the government's decision as illogical.
He further expressed, "The state government has made a grave error. This decision is not in the best interest of the students, parents, or the educational system as a whole," urging a reversal of the decision and highlighting the adverse impact on the educational system.
He emphasized the need for stakeholders to advocate for the government to reopen schools, underlining the unreasonableness of keeping students at home when parents had already paid school fees and purchased textbooks. Uwadiae-Enosorogbe contended that the government's use of political strategies to hinder education was an error that served no one’s interest.