Of all the Secondary Schools in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun state, Holy Michael High School (H.M.H.S) Stood out and it was miles ahead of other secondary schools in Ikirun and environs.
The School founded in September 1980 by the Cherubim and Seraphim Church was a shining star among its peers.
Right from the mid 80s till around 2010, it became a household name. Little wonder, parents from adjourning towns like Okuku, Otan, Iresi, Iree, Iba, Eko-Ende, Eko-Ajala, Ekosin, Inisha, Iragbiji, Osogbo, Ila, Obagun, Ororuwo, Agba, Ada, among others, prefer to enrol their children and wards in the school.
It was a common phenomenon to see parents withdrawing their children from private schools to Holy Michael High School (H.M.H.S). The reason was simple, the crops of teachers the school paraded then were second to none. The quality of education was top notch, the discipline was superb. The name Holy Michael means excellence in every sense of it. The school authority never compromised its standard for anything.
In academic or sports, Holy Michael was always the school to beat. The school paraded teachers like Mr. Oseni, who later became both Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Mr. Sumonu, one of the best Mathematical teaches of his generation, Mrs. M.O Akinwale, now late; Mr. Jide Laoye, Mrs Oladunmoye, Mrs Ogungbire, Mrs Abijo, Mrs Aroyehun, Mr. Oyeniyi, Mr. Adediran, Mr. Giwa, and Mr. Akinniyi.
Others are: Mr. Oseni (Father), Mr. Oladipupo, Mr. Arilomo, Mr. Olawoye, Mr. Oderinu (Vice Principal Administration), Mr. Adeyemo, Mr. Ayodeji (Vice Principal Academics), Mr. Abidogun, Mr. Ojo, Mr. Ayorinde, Mrs Olaosun, Mr. Afolabi, Mr. Akintola, Mrs. Abimbola, Mr. Akanji, Baba Onigba, Mr. C.O Ojo (Principal), Mr. Oyebode, Mr. Ogunyemi, Mr. Fayemi, among others.
Little wonder, the students that graduated from the school are breaking new grounds in all spheres of life. They could be easily found in any discipline. It wasn’t a fluke, they were well moulded during their sojourn at this prestigious secondary school.
Regrettably, the fortune of the school started dwindling when the administration of Rauf came with a haphazard education policy. The policy saw students of three different schools merged into one. With the policy, discipline, excellence and quality education became a thing of the past. The chaotic policy left most schools in Osun state in ruins. In some cases, some schools became breeding grounds for cultism. The schools in the state are still leaking their wounds, as they try to pick up the pieces of whatever remains of them.
Aregbesola’s administration superintendent over a distratous records in West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) results in the history of the state.
Following the irreparable loss his policy inflicted on the education sector in the state, his successor, Gboyega Oyetola reversed the chaotic education policy of Aregbesola.
Nevertheless, the policy had left so many schools in the state in ruins. One of such schools is Holy Michael High School.
It was based on this that the 1996-2002 set visited the school. A visit to the school by the 2002 set was an eye opener. It nearly brought tears to their eyes. The serene environment that always greeted the teachers, students and visitors to the school has been taken over by erosion.
The block of classrooms in the school are in a dilapidated state. Most of the roofs of the classrooms have been removed by the windstorm. The school looks like it has been abandoned. The once glorious school is now a shadow of itself.
Without doubt, the school is in need of urgent intervention to restore it back to its glorious days. The sorry state the school has found itself demands an urgent intervention from the government and the alumni association of the school.
As the school celebrates its 45th anniversary next year, a lot needs to be done to safe the glorious citadel of learning from the ruins. The time to restore its glory is now.
May God help us, Hmhs my school, I could remember the seren environment bwith flowers and stones well arranged with paint on them. Beautiful environment and discipline from both teachers and students. Our roll call by 7:15 am before assembly was the best among equals, that really shaped someone like us to be punctual at work or anywhere we found ourselves. We are happy that we are student of HMHS ,my school built on rock, my school built on love ,father bless our parents and teachers.
Will there be a government secondary school like HMHS again? The school belongs to a church and the muslim students were doing fine. There were muslim teachers. Teachers focused every student they wanted to handle. At a point, Mr. Sumonu directed me to come and greet him 3 times everyday to say “I am around, sir”. So many experiences…
The fortune of the school started dwindling when the wonderful teachers were posted to secondary schools in Ila Orangun and that was not Aregbesola’s time.