Tuesday 24 September 2013

PRESS STATEMENT FAKUNLE COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL, OSOGBO TO BE DEMOLISED FOR SHOPRITE/INTERNATIONAL CAR PARK! AREGBESOLA MUST GUARANTEE FREE AND QUALITATIVE EDUCATION BEFORE PROTECTING THE INTEREST OF BIG PRIVATE RETAIL SHOPS.

Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo is under threat as the Osun State Government has concluded plans of demolishing the school and replacing it with Shoprite/International car park. Hence, we condemn the planned demolition
.
The School was established in 1965 by a Reverend gentleman, Pa. Ade Fakunle (of blessed memory) on over a kilometre in length expanse of land but was taken over by the military government in 1975. No doubt, the School still stands tall as one of the social institutions on which knowledge, morality and empowerment have been impacted on the Osogbo community. To say the least, the School is one of the best in the State (even with outstanding performance in West African Examinations). Fakunle is the most populous secondary school in Osun State, followed by Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife and Ilesa Grammar School, Ilesa respectively. Both Oduduwa College and Ilesa Grammar School still retain their existence while Fakunle, with its long history and reputable academic standards, faces destruction by the government. Hence, the need to nurture, cherish and preserve the Heritage, History & Legacy is desirable.
 
Unfortunately, the government of the State has concluded plans on demolishing the School and the space will be handed over to Shoprite (a big private retail shop) to do business as well as build a car park. Aregbesola-led government is only interested in defending the interest of the rich and big business like Shoprite as against the interest the poor masses and pupils. The government is only interested in Fakunle Comprehensive High School because it is located at the heart of the city, a choice spot in Osogbo.
 
However, what awaits the pupils is simple. The plan is to scatter the pupils to different schools. These schools that will accommodate the displaced students are already overpopulated and lacking in basic infrastructures. For instance, early in the year when the government transferred some pupils of Fakunle High School to Osogbo Grammar School, there were no classrooms that will accommodate the displaced students such that the library, which in itself is inadequate and not conducive for classroom academic work became the port of call. Similarly, some students that ended up in other schools had to put their chairs and tables on the open field. Hence, the students protested on 1st of February 2013 which forced the Governor, Rauf Aregbesola to revert this obnoxious policy. The same policy is to be implemented soon because Rauf Aregbesola and his godfather, Mr. Bola Tinubu have vested interest in Shoprite.
 
Some of the implications are; that students will be forced to cover more distance to school and spend more money getting to school, a situation that is inimical to their learning, imposing more financial burden on the parents/guardians in terms of transport fares caused by long distances to schools. This invariably will affect the performance as well as deepening the crisis in the education sector. Besides, this will bring more hardship on the parents and children in accessing educational facilities. Memories of the late Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and former Governor of old Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige’s policies on education are still very fresh. Their education policies encouraged children and youths of that time to go to school. E.g. schools must not be more than a kilometre from pupils’ doorsteps.
 
There are pertinent questions we need to ask: Why then should the government consider demolishing the School that has been existing for 57 years and replace it with Shoprite/international car park? Why should the Osun State government put the lives of our children in jeopardy? Why should the government implement an action that will discourage students from continuing education?
 
Besides, it is counterproductive for the government to deny her citizens qualitative education in a conducive environment and particularly destroying her heritage in the process of satisfying cronies. The Government has failed to improve on the ailing education sector, yet she is planning to demolish another Legacy. However, what the people of Osun needs is qualitative education and improvement in other sectors of the economy not necessarily erecting big retail shops at the expense of qualitative education.
 
Since the Osun State Government is desperate to get Shoprite choice land in Osogbo, it should leave Fakunle Comprehensive High School alone and get Shoprite another space. Alternatively, the government should set up Shoprite in the Oke-fia Government House, GRA Osogbo and leave the poor masses alone.
 
We hereby condemn the decision of the government to blue-pencil Fakunle Comprehensive High School because of the Governor’s self-benefiting financial deal with Shoprite. We also believe there are other properties elsewhere in Osogbo that are suitable and readily available for private business firms and not undermining public social facilities. We hereby call on the pupils, parents/guardians, teachers, workers and the entire Osun State people to also condemn this anti-education policy and ask the Governor to invalidate his decision on the demolition of Fakunle Comprehensive High School and merging of her pupils and staff with other schools.
 
 
OUR DEMANDS:
   
·        NO to Demolition of Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo!
 
·        NO to the Education Policy of the Government that is going to inflict pains on the students of Osun.
 
·        Osun State Government must complete all the School Projects they have embarked upon since 2011 under ‘O-SCHOOL’ without hesitation.
 
·        Osun State Government must build more qualitative schools and equip all the existing ones.
 
Thank you
 
 
 
Signed;
Suru Adeniyi
Kazeem Oloyede
Oluwatosin Abayomi
Fikayo Owoeye
 
For: CONCERNED MEMBERS OF ALUMNI, Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo.

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