Ekiti Government Enforces Ban on Social Events in Public Schools

The Ekiti State Government has reiterated its ban on the use of public school premises for parties and other social events. The Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, said that such activities are detrimental to the education system and the learning environment.

According to him, public schools should be conducive for knowledge acquisition and impartation, with minimal disruption of their core functions.

He added that teaching and learning require a high level of mental concentration, reflection and balance, which can only be achieved in a peaceful atmosphere.

He also stated that the government is committed to educational development and has implemented a policy of free and compulsory education up to senior secondary school level.

He said that the government is investing in the capacity building of teachers, the renovation of dilapidated infrastructure, the provision of perimeter fencing and WASH facilities in public schools.

He further said that the government is collaborating with the World Bank to provide similar facilities at the secondary school level through the AGILE project, which aims to empower adolescent girls through education.

He lamented that the use of school halls, playfields, classrooms and other facilities for social events has been a major factor affecting the quality of education in public schools. He said that such events often cause damage to school property, littering of school grounds, theft, burglary, drug abuse and other social vices.

He said that “in most cases, the preparations for the events’ receptions which include the erection of tents/canopies may begin on Thursdays even when the schools are in session. When they occur during the weekends and holidays, buildings and the landscapes in these schools are defaced and infrastructures damaged”.

“The damage can only be imagined as the schools were often thrown into frenzy of avoidable disconcerting guests, causing distraction for the students.

“Even, after the event, the school playfields and the entire environments are littered with empty sachets of water/drinks, broken bottles, and empty plastic containers of water, drinks, decayed food items and other irritating wastes which are left for the pupils to pick and clean up on Mondays. All these are additions to the health hazards arising from the enormous refuse generated during the events”.

“The furniture in the classrooms and windows, were often damaged by these intruders and there have cases of theft, burglary with the school buildings used as hide-out for drug peddling and consumption. The unwholesome practices not only compound the incidences of social vices in the society but regrettably became a bad influence on the children”.

He therefore urged all stakeholders to support the government’s efforts at developing the state and improving the welfare of the people, especially in the education sector. He stressed that the prohibition of social events in public schools would be strictly enforced by the relevant authorities.

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