Toba Suleiman
11 January 2008
Ado-Ekiti — In what appeared to be the season of protests in Ekiti State, teachers and students of School for the Deaf yesterday staged a peaceful protest over an alleged plan by the state government to move the school from its present site in Ikere-Ekiti to Ikoro area of the state.
The placard carrying students, were led by their teachers who addressed newsmen through an interpreter.
Inscriptions on some of their placards read "Transfer is not the solution to education problem" "All schools for the deaf are in state capital" "Ikoro is not our wish" "Do not discriminate against the deaf."
According to them, if the school is relocated from its present site, there would be tendency for them to go into extinction because the intended new location has no facilities that could enhance the learning ability of the students.
They observed that the transfer would amount to which later addressed the protesters, urged them not to quote its purpose of relocation out of context, adding that the intention was in the overall interest of the students.
The Personal assistant to the Deputy Governor, Tosin Jegede, who addressed the protesters on behalf of the government advised that the intention should not be seen as discrimination against the physically challenged.
He added that the government may probably call on the leaders of the protesters to deliberate on the new plan.
He, however, promised to pass their message to the Deputy Governor who accompanied the governor to the flag off of road projects at Ikere.
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