Borno State Government, in collaboration with partners, has called for a review of the state’s Safe School Initiative, inclusive education, and gender issues with a view to tackling attacks on the education sector in the state.
The government made the call on Saturday at the state’s education summit themed: “Strengthening Safe, Inclusive and Gender-Responsive Education: Building Back Borno Better”
While addressing journalists shortly after the event, the Executive Secretary of the Borno State Education Trust Fund, Grema Terab, said the event provided an opportunity to evaluate lapses and progress in the state’s education system.
“This event is an eye-opener for all of us. We have had a very good panel discussion today, and a lot of stakeholders in the education sector have brainstormed on how to make effective security in our school premises.”
He noted that many of the speakers have suggested the need for facilities that provide early warnings for any abduction or attack that will help place students and staff on the alert”We also advised that members of the Civil-Military Joint Task Force be deployed to all the schools where our students are learning. Please send your children to school and support the government,” he said.
On his part, the state Commissioner of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Abba Wakilbe, disclosed that the state has recorded tremendous progress in human and infrastructural development.
“We have done a lot of teachers’ recruitment, trained and retrained and still training our teachers, building better infrastructure and equipping schools and even solidifying our curriculum,” Wakilbe said.
However, he expressed strong concerns over the spate of abductions in recent times, saying they constitute a threat to
educational development in the state.
“If this does not stop, progress will not happen, and a lot of what we have achieved will be reversed,” he stressed.
The Commissioner called on residents and partners to continue supporting the state in its drive to protect schools and advance education.
Also, Sadiq Abubakar Mu’azu, the Executive Director of the Centre for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative (CATAI), said stakeholders should explore ways to strengthen safe, inclusive, and gender-responsive education as part of efforts to rebuild Borno State’s education sector.
He noted that the summit underscores a platform for dialogue; it strengthened partnerships, elevated local priorities, and reinforced the collective responsibility to ensure that every child, especially those affected by conflict and other humanitarian challenges, has access to safe and quality learning opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Unique Care and Support Foundation, Benjamin John, described the summit as a call for reflection for all education practitioners, school authorities and every individual to ensure that schools become safe for learners.
“Since 2014, after the abduction, we thought that it had ended. But in recent times, we have seen how this issue has resurfaced around the country, particularly in Borno State,” he said.
John expressed fears that the spate of abductions may further worsen the out-of-school children crisis in the region
“It is a big concern because it is coming at a time when the number of our out-of-school children is alarming, and nationally, there is a lot of drive to ensure that these students are brought back to school.
“With this kind of situation where students have been abducted, it means that students will continue to go out of schools and this will continue to add to the number of⁵ out-of-school children,” he emphasised.
“The call we can make to our parents is that the government is working actively to ensure school safety; partners, including CASFOD, and others, are also doing their best. All we need to do is to support your children to be in school,” he declared.
He said access, security and community response are the key concerns now. He appealed to parents to support their children to go to school.
The summit was attended by education experts, state officials, academics, development partners, top security officers, traditional leaders and students.
