Aregbesola’s Same School Uniform Policy, Brilliant Idea —Soyinka

Staff April 16, 2014

Renowned literary icon and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, on Monday, shoved aside whatever criticism that might have come the way of some aspects of the reforms of the Osun State education sector, calling on all states  in Nigeria to adopt it for their schools.
Soyinka, who is also the chairman, Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, while delivering an address to open a three-day All-comers colloquium tagged: “Fundamental Imperatives of Cohabitation: Faith and Secularism,  at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding,  Osogbo, said it was an innovation that should be adopted throughout the country.
He contended that children at their level should not be made to believe that they were superior to one another for them to be able learn in a class-free environment.
Soyinka queried that if Nigerians agreed that children should not be distinguished by affluence, then, it was fundamentally wrong to differentiate children on religious basis.
Professor Soyinka noted that it was wise for the governor of Osun State to have thought about that in line with the philosophy of giving to the children a level playing field to learn and exhibit their God-given talents.
According to him, “I have heard some arguments based on the fact that the school uniform will reduce the children’s sense of individualism. I asked, who says this is what these children need at this tender age? I think they will be able to decide that when they grow up.
“What they need now is an atmosphere where they can learn without distraction.”
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