Op-ed: ”When Will This School Strike End?” Is a Student Regular Question

By: Boluwaji Daso

As the institution’s strike enters its 13th-day today, (Sunday), 6th August 2023 at Osun State Polytechnic, OSPOLY, Iree, students are growing increasingly frustrated and demanding answers regarding when the ongoing strike will finally come to an end. With the lecture hall left empty, Daily Part-Time program ongoing examination suspended and education disrupted, the community is eagerly awaiting a resolution to the ongoing dispute between the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), the state govt, and the school management.

It would be recalled that a protest came up on July 25, 2023, whereby students and staff at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree woke up to the protest by members of the ASUP, leaving thousands of students without access to regular education.  The primary concerns of the striking Asup revolve around the suspension of the institution rector. Despite negotiations and meetings between the SUG' union and govt stakeholders, a mutually agreeable resolution has yet to be reached.

Guardians are struggling to manage their children's education and are growing increasingly worried about the impact of the strike on their academic progress. Many have expressed frustration at the lack of communication from both sides and are concerned about the long-term consequences of the ongoing strike.

Students, too, are feeling the effects of the strike, with their education put on hold indefinitely. While some have traveled home amid the indecisive strike, others are struggling to maintain motivation and keep up with their studies.

Amidst the mounting pressure, the institution's student union government (SUG) has assured the community that they are actively engaged in negotiations and are committed to finding a resolution that meets the needs of all parties involved. However, they haven't refrained from providing a specific timeline for when the strike may end.

"We understand the concerns of students,  and we are working diligently to resolve the issues at hand, We recognize the importance of providing quality education to our students and are committed to reaching a fair agreement as soon as possible." said the union in their recent release. 

As the strike continues, the community is left anxiously wondering when their students will return to school and when normalcy will be restored. Both sides must come to an agreement that addresses the concerns of the Asup while also ensuring the educational needs of the students are met.

In the meantime, students,  remain hopeful that a resolution will be reached soon, ending the prolonged strike and allowing students to resume their education without further delay.