The Coordinator Child Protection Network in Oyo state, Dr Ebunlomo Walker, Wednesday asked governor Seyi Makinde to make long-distance learning available and accessible to all children in the state.
Dr. Walker made the call in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan.
He emphasised that there is the need for an all-inclusive education being the watchword of the government to avoid gross inequality whereby the well-endowed continue to learn while the rural areas are left behind.
The Child Right Protection coordinator stated that closing of schools has popularised the use of long-distance learning modalities, which include radio program, home-schooling, online learning and other innovative approaches to enable children continue to learn.
She pointed out that the global COVID-19 pandemic has led to drastic responses that include lockdowns with closing of schools and other spaces of learning for children in Oyo state and indeed globally.
She added that making long-distance learning available and accessible to all children stands as the only way to ensure that no child is left behind due to COVID-19 or any other emergency situation occasioning disruption in learning.
“CPN Oyo state calls on Oyo state government to, as a matter of urgency, make long-distance learning available and accessible to all children of Oyo state to ensure that no child is left behind due to COVID-19 or any other emergency situation occasioning disruption in learning”, she said.
Dr. Walker said: “All-inclusive Education should be the watchword of the government to avoid gross inequality whereby the well-endowed continue to learn while the rural and other underserved are left behind. Failure to do this will negatively impact and make a mockery of Governor Makinde’s well-known and lauded education program for all in Oyo state.”
Emphasising that, “the global COVID pandemic has led to drastic responses that include lockdowns with closing of schools and other spaces of learning for children in Oyo state and indeed globally.”
“Though this is in a bid to break community transmission of the virus, an unintended consequence is the resultant disruption of access to children’s learning, at great costs to the children, family and community life.
“This is because education is a child’s right and foundational to development and cannot wait and neither should it wait. For the most vulnerable, not only does it offer safety and protection, it also offers hope for a brighter future.
“The closing of schools has popularised the use of long-distance learning modalities, which include radio program, home-schooling, online learning and other innovative approaches to enable children continue to learn.”
