The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Segun Olayiwola, has urged teachers across the state to intensify academic activities to recover the learning time lost during the recent one-month industrial action.
This was as he warned that failure to do so could negatively affect candidates preparing for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examination Council (NECO) examinations.
Olayiwola made the appeal on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting with leaders of teachers’ unions, education administrators and government officials following the suspension of the strike and the reopening of public schools across the state.
The commissioner noted that although the strike had been called off, the responsibility now rests on teachers, principals, head teachers and education managers to ensure that the disrupted academic calendar is brought back on track.
“We have lost about one month of academic work, and we must do everything possible to recover that time. We cannot afford to allow our pupils and students to suffer the consequences of the disruption,” he said.
He warned that if urgent remedial measures were not implemented, candidates preparing for external examinations, particularly WAEC and NECO, could face serious academic challenges.
“One of the implications of losing one month of learning is that it could reflect in the performance of our students in WAEC and NECO. That is why we must accelerate teaching and ensure that the syllabus is adequately covered,” he added.
Olayiwola disclosed that education inspectors would embark on regular monitoring visits to schools across the state to assess compliance with the government’s directive and evaluate the pace of academic recovery.
According to him, the monitoring exercise will help identify schools requiring additional intervention and ensure that classroom teaching resumes effectively.
The commissioner also expressed concern over teachers who traditionally engage in holiday coaching programmes, noting that the prolonged strike had disrupted their plans as well.
“We are conscious of the sacrifices our teachers are making. Some of them usually utilise the holidays for vacation classes, but the disruption has altered the academic calendar.
“We appreciate their understanding and appeal for greater commitment in helping our children recover the lost ground,” he said.
He commended the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and other education unions for suspending the strike and embracing dialogue with the state government.
Olayiwola further appealed to school administrators to mobilise teachers towards implementing effective recovery strategies capable of covering the outstanding curriculum without compromising the quality of learning.
He reiterated the commitment of the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde to improving education through sustained investment in infrastructure, teachers’ welfare and school development programmes.
Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the Oyo State Civil Service Commission, Alhaji Kamarudeen Aderibigbe, also urged teachers to see the recovery of the lost academic period as a collective responsibility.
He stressed that the curriculum in Oyo State is the same as that of other states across the country and warned against allowing pupils in the state to fall behind their peers because of the disruption.
“We have lost valuable academic time, and we must find practical ways to recover it. Oyo State has always maintained its position as a pacesetter in education, and we must work together to sustain that reputation,” he said.
Also speaking, the Oyo State Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Olukayode Salami, appealed to the Ministry of Education to release a revised academic calendar to guide schools in covering the lost period and adequately preparing candidates for public examinations.
Various heads of different education bodies present acknowledged Makinde’s unrelenting efforts towards enhanced worlers welfare and teachers well-being.
They reaffirmed their support and full cooperation with efforts being made by the government on safe school and inclusive education saying, “we’re all together in this.”
Other stakeholders at the meeting reinforced similar call, urging the government to expedite the release of the revised school calendar while pledging their support towards ensuring that teaching and learning proceed smoothly and in accelerated manner throughout the remainder of the academic session.