The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has expressed the urgency to further protect children and schools from attacks in Nigeria.
The UNICEF Communication Specialist | Communications, Advocacy and Partnerships, Susan Akila in a statement said there have been increased attacks, which has led to the closure of many schools, resulting in more out-of-school children in the nation.
‘Nigeria’s education system faces an alarming crisis, with 10.2 million children of primary school age, and another 8.1 million of junior secondary school age out of school, and 74 percent of children aged 7-14 lacking basic reading and math skills.
‘This crisis is compounded by increasing attacks on schools, with 19 documented incidents in 2022 and 2023, leading to the closure of 113 schools in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states due to insecurity.
‘These stark realities highlight the urgent need for combined action to protect education nationwide.’
Akila expressed the need for action as the World observed the International Day
to Protect Education from Attack usually held on the 10th of September of every year.
Leaders, educators, and advocates gathered in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria to discuss the implications of this on the education sector and its impact on learners.
The event, organized by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in collaboration with UNICEF, focused on raising awareness about the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools (MSSS) and discussing concrete steps to enhance school safety nationwide.
The Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, emphasized the need to utilize the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools (NPSSVFS) and the National Minimum Standards for Safe Schools for the operationalization of safe school policies.
‘These guidelines are essential for ensuring consistent safety standards across educational institutions, thereby reducing casualties during imminent attacks,’ said the Minister.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, H
amid Bobboyi, reemphasized the collective responsibility in safeguarding education, stressing that implementing the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools is essential to addressing the safety challenges schools face.
‘Governments, communities, and partners must collaborate to ensure that every Nigerian child can learn in a safe and supportive environment,’ he said.
The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, echoed this sentiment adding that ensuring children’s safety in schools is a shared responsibility.
‘The Minimum Standards for Safe Schools provide a critical framework for protecting education in Nigeria, but it requires all of us to commit to its implementation. The discussions and commitments made today are vital for creating secure learning environments for every child in Nigeria,’ she said.
The statement noted that discussions were based on evidence from the 2023 Minimum Standards for Safe Schools implementation assessment, which revealed that states, on average, fulfil only 9 out of th
e 21 standards intended to ensure protective learning environments. Bridging this gap between policy and practice was a central theme of the discussions, with participants calling for intensified efforts to close it.
‘It is worthy to note that states score highest in preventing violence against children and creating strong school systems for safety through training and awareness. However, they score lowest in school infrastructure, with just 14 percent of schools meeting basic safety requirements such as perimeter fencing and lockable gates.
‘Notably, fewer than 1 in 5 schools are performing well overall. While the 2023 assessment collected data from 10 states, UNICEF is partnering with the government to expand the assessment to 18 states for 2024.’
Source: Voice of Nigeria