The alumni of Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro, in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, have called on the state government to reinstate the boarding system in the school. They believe this would better serve the institution’s original mandate of teaching and instilling character and discipline in students.
During the school’s 51st anniversary celebration held in Abeokuta over the weekend, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, Chairman of the ACOSA737 set, expressed the alumni’s disappointment over the current state of the school. He lamented the abandonment of the boarding facilities, which have been lying idle since the 1980s when the state government converted the school to a day school.
Fashola noted that Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro, was initially conceptualized and designed as a boarding institution to serve not just the Aiyetoro community but the entire Ogun State and beyond. He stressed that reverting to the boarding system would help the school achieve its full potential.
“When I visited the school recently, I was heartbroken to see my former boarding house abandoned. If the government allows us, as old students, to revive the boarding system, the school can attract more students and fulfill its purpose. The structures are still there, but they are not being used. Comprehensive High School was designed to be a boarding school, and it should revert to its original mandate,” he said.
The event also featured the presentation of awards to deserving members of the alumni. Fashola urged old students to support the government in enhancing the school’s capacity, emphasizing that the government alone cannot address all the issues affecting education.
“We have realized that the government cannot handle all schools alone. With limited resources and numerous challenges, it is crucial for alumni associations to partner with the government for the sustainable development of our alma mater,” he concluded.