Authorities of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, on Wednesday, announced the indefinite closure of the state college of education following a violent protest by the students.
According to the acting Provost of the College, Dr Ayinla Jimoh, the decision to close down the college was to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
Scores of students of the institution were said to have protested against plans by the authorities to disallow students who had defaulted in school fees payment from participating in the semester exams.
The exams were scheduled to commence on Wednesday but the students were displeased by the decision of the management as scores of the defaulting students were alleged to have gone on a rampage destroying and damaging property on sight.
It was gathered that in the process, the students allegedly hauled stones, sachet water and missiles at some members of staff.
It was also gathered that the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr Afeez Abolore-Alabi, personally intervened but the aggrieved students were undaunted and still went ahead with the destruction.
Another version of the cause of the disorder was that members of the College Academic Staff Union had earlier in the day met not to participate in the examinations as a protest against none payment of their one and half-month old salary arrears.
Adducing reasons for the closure of the college, the Acting Provost of the school, Dr Ayinla Jimoh, said that the irate students allegedly damaged the personal vehicle of the Deputy Provost (Academic).
Jimoh added that the over 500 students who were yet to pay their school fees spearheaded the protest despite the intervention of the commissioner.
He said: “We had agreed to allow the defaulting students to take part in the examinations based on the intervention of the Commissioner but instead of appreciating the commissioner’s gesture, the student went on a rampage.
“They started throwing stones, sachet water and other things at us, as I am talking to you, we have closed down the college indefinitely.
“As per the salary arrears, the state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, met with the college academic staff last week and promised to pay the salaries promptly. The governor gave his words. That informed the decision of the staff not to boycott the examinations,” the Provost said.
