The Ogun State Government has resumed academic activities in public schools affected by the recent methane gas emissions in Ijebu Ode, relocating learners to designated safe areas within their school premises while investigations into the incident continue.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu. He said the government had put in place measures to protect learners without disrupting academic activities.
According to him, although SS3 students writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination were initially moved to other schools, all learners have now returned to their respective schools and are receiving lessons from safe locations within the compounds.
He said, “When parents raised the issue, we had to listen to them, and then we put in place measures that will at least give them a bit of comfort. We said those writing WAEC should relocate to another school. The students of Anglican Girls Grammar School were moved to Adeola Odutola College, while those of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School were relocated to Ijebu Muslim College.”
Arigbabu explained that following the completion of the WASSCE by SS3 students, more classroom space became available, allowing other learners to return to their schools.
“So, as we speak now, all the schools, I mean all the students, are in their schools, but in the safer places. Because SS3 students have left school, we have more space and we are able to move them to those locations,” he said.
The commissioner revealed that despite the government’s earlier directive for students to remain at home, many learners continued reporting to school, where teachers engaged them in safe sections of the school premises.
He said, “Despite our instructions, I got to school one day and met them there. The teachers were in school and had been trying to teach them in some safe places. So we decided to activate that arrangement and put them in safe places within the school.”
According to Arigbabu, investigations have shown that the methane emission is limited to specific sections of the affected schools rather than the entire premises, making it possible to isolate the affected areas while academic activities continue elsewhere.
“Because the emission is only heavy in certain parts of the school, that particular area has been cut off so that learners will not go there, while they have been moved to safe places,” he stated.
The commissioner urged parents and residents not to panic, assuring them that the government remained committed to safeguarding learners while experts continued investigating the source of the methane emissions.
“Problems are made for man. We should not feel defeated and say our children should stay at home. We have to find safe places to continue teaching them,” he said.
Arigbabu also dismissed speculation that the incident was caused by sabotage, describing it as a natural occurrence affecting parts of the wider Ijebu Ode community.
“It is not just a school problem. We are looking at it holistically. Some people are saying it is a terrorist attack or something, but it is a natural occurrence. The intention is to identify the problem and determine what should be done to mitigate it,” he added.
He expressed optimism that the approaching end of the school term and the expected eight week holiday would provide enough time for the government and relevant agencies to conclude investigations and implement lasting safety measures before the next academic session.
He added that the state was also prepared to sustain learning through its AI powered learning platform should physical classes become impossible.
“So, even if it becomes impossible to go to school, we can continue teaching and learning because our teachers have been trained to use the AI powered learning platform,” Arigbabu said.
