FG Commits To Strengthening Security In Schools AT All Costs
Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
The Federal government of Nigeria has promised to make schools in the country safe and secure at all costs.
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who made the pledge at the Ministerial Session of the 66th National Council on Education (NCE) meeting taking place in Abuja, said it is the responsibility of governments to uphold the right to education for all by ensuring that all barriers are removed as such, the safety and security of all children must remain paramount.
The Minister noted that all hands must be on deck to strengthen the security system of the country’s educational institutions since security is a collaborative effort and should not be left in the hands of the law enforcement agents alone.
He asked all stakeholders in education sector to interface and be involved, through the National Council on Education, in order to address the menace of insecurity in the country, which remains one of the biggest challenges.
“Despite government’s best efforts and numerous interventions in the past, we are still confronted with the challenge of out-of school children, which, in part is the result of the general insecurity in our society, which has now arrived at our institutions following a spate of incessant attacks against public and private schools”.
He called on state governments still lagging behind to rise up to their responsibilities, and provide a safe and secure learning environment for both students and teachers.
In his welcome address, the Minister of State Education, Goodluck Opiah, said the theme for this year NCE, “Strengthening of Security and Safety in Nigerian Schools for the Achievement of Education 2030 Agenda” is timely, considering the challenges and incessant attacks on schools, churches, mosques, roads, railway stations and different villages and towns that have become increasingly frequent in news headlines.
He said attacks such as kidnapping, banditry, ritual killings among others in both public and private sectors are destabilizing the nation’s educational system and eating deep into the foundations of her existence and exposing the sector to traumatic experiences.
Opiah re-echoed the need for all stakeholders to collaborate and cooperate with government so as to address the state of insecurity in Nigeria and proffer practical solutions to the menace of Insecurity that has bedeviled institutions.
The UNICEF Chief, Education Officer, Saadhna Panday-Soobrayan, said, the need to strengthen safety and security of Nigerian schools cannot be overemphasized as attacks on schools and violence in and around schools are having devastating short and long-term consequences on the wellbeing of children and communities.
According to her, UNICEF strongly believes that quality education, especially for the girl child, is the single most effective investment a country can make to ensure safety and security and the economic wellbeing of the country.
She said Nigeria has a strong policy landscape in support of safe schools and that UNICEF is currently supporting the Federal Ministry of Education to develop a national costed implementation plan which is being replicated for 11 states with the highest risk profiles.
For the UNICEF Chief, Education Officer, school safety cannot be dealt with in isolation from the other challenges facing Nigeria’s education system and children are out of school because they feel unsafe, thereby, failing to learn, which in turn, heightens their participation in risk behaviour including in conflict and violence.
Commissioners for Education, Permanent Secretaries in education, Directors among other delegates from the 36 States and FCT are attending the meeting.
