In an effort to curb the incessant attack on schools in the rural areas in the country, the Federal Government is planning to adopt some specific measures as a means of checkmating bandits and other criminal elements from carrying out their dastardly acts.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Andrew David Adejo disclosed this today, Monday at the 81st Joint Consultative Committee on Education, held in Yola, the Adamawa state capital.
He said some of the measures will include the abolition of boarding schools in rural areas for now, creating a special security unit for schools, introduction of security studies into the curriculum of our institutions.
According to him, other measures will be the drilling of students and teachers on emergency measures, construction of perimeter walls around schools and the installation of CCTV/alarm systems in our schools.
Mr Adejo added that “it’s become very pertinent in the light of attacks on our education institutions, kidnapping of innocent children, wards and even parents and guardians, culminating in an unsettling air of insecurity that threatened our educational systems”.
“We want to ensure that the delivery of qualitative education in Nigeria is a common trend that runs through every single parents, hence the need to ensure the existence of a peaceful, secure and serene environment for effective teaching and learning”
Stressing that “only if we work individually and collectively towards eliminating extreme cases of fear and uncertainty in our schools then we will achieve our goals”.
The Permanent Secretary explained further that the theme of this year’s meeting “Strengthening Security and Safety in Nigeria Schools for the Achievement of Education 2030 agenda, is aimed at track focusing on inclusive, equitable, safe and healthy schools as the most effective means to improve learning outcomes prevent discriminatory attitudes and behaviours.
Declaring the workshop open, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri said, “as a government, we have long realized how important it is to reposition our entire school system in the State”
There’s direct synergy between ourselves, securing a conducive learning environment and efficient education system and human capital development which occupy a central position in our 11 points agenda.
“While the general security of the lives and property of all Adamawa citizens remains our paramount priority, more important is the security of the schools that help the younger ones to take up the task of nation building”.
“Government has a duty to carry on the responsibilities of the provision of the required infrastructure. I must add that we all have vital roles to play, school managers, facilitators, teachers, administrators, role models, parents, guardians, will all have to play these roles responsibly,” he said.
Noting that “It is indeed, one thing, to secure the schools from external aggression and an entirely different thing, to keep.”
The 81st Joint consultative committee on education Penney meeting is being attended by the Permanent Secretary and directors of the ministry of education in all the 36 states of the federation and Abuja as well as directors from the federal ministry of education.
