From Divine Macaulay, in Kaduna
In response to the growing concern over the safety of students and teachers in schools in Kaduna, the State government has taken steps towards enhancing the safety of schools by implementing a comprehensive Safe School Policy.
The Deputy Project Coordinator, Reaching Out of School Children Project in Kaduna State (ROOSC), Hassan Abdul, said this today (Wednesday) during a 4-day training for 50 master trainers in Kaduna.
According to Abdul, the initiative, launched in collaboration with key security agencies and civil society organizations, aims to provide a secure and conducive learning environment for children across the state.
He added that the initiative is timely as it is crucial, expressing optimism that the training would contribute to building a safer and more conducive educational environment across the state.
“This is why our partners, Save The Children International (SCI), have taken the bull by the horns to train 50 key stakeholders on the implementation o Jif the Safe School Policy in Kaduna State.
“And we are grateful to SCI for this intervention, as it aligns perfectly with the governor’s ongoing efforts to improve school infrastructure and enhance community engagement in school security.”
Furthermore, He advised participants
to participate in the training with utmost dedication that will enable them to step down the training to their respective communities, ensuring that the knowledge gained is widely spread in their various communities.
Similarly, the Deputy Director of Advocacy, Campaign, Communication and Media of Save the Children International, Badar Musa, stressed the urgency of addressing the increasing insecurity issues affecting schools, particularly in rural Communities.
He noted that the training is designed to strengthen local capacity to prevent and respond to attacks on schools.
Musa disclosed that Kaduna State, which has witnessed several incidents of school abductions and attacks in recent years, is considered a high-risk zone.
The state government has been collaborating with both local and international organizations to bolster its education sector, with particular attention to safety and resilience.
“The national policy on School Safety has been passed for a long time now, and Kaduna State is the first state to domesticate this policy into its context, thereby serving as a model for implementation of this national policy on safety, security, and violence for schools.”
According to him, the safety of children in schools is non-negotiable; hence, this training is a life-saving intervention. Adding that the organisation is building a network of stakeholders who will ensure that learning continues even in the face of adversity.”
“Children are exposed to different forms of violence, especially at home, at school, and within society, and that has led to several out-of-school children.”
“They no longer feel safe in school, while returning from school. So this training is looking to address all these violent situations that children experience, whether in school, on their way to school, or even within the community.”
“We need the synergy because no single agency can solve the challenges that children face. But if we team up, together, we can ensure that it is pulled out of our learning environment.
“We are not only building safer schools, but also stronger communities. When children feel safe, they are more likely to learn and thrive,”
“As schools in Kaduna prepare for the upcoming academic year, there is renewed hope that the collaboration between government, civil society, and international partners will lead to a more secure future for children he concluded.”
In his remarks the Chairman of The Joint National Association of People With Disability, Sulieman Abdullazeez, expressed gratitude that the training also focused on inclusive safety measures that cater to the needs of children with disabilities, girls, and other vulnerable groups, stressing that safety must be holistic, addressing both physical threats and socio-emotional well-being.
Bashir Said a Head Teachers who participated at the training, said the it provided him with practical skills he had never considered before, noting that, he now knows what a Safe School Policy Entails and believes that at the end of the training, he will know how to draft a school safety plan and conduct a risk assessment, as these are tools desperately needed.
