Stakeholders on the seventh Annual Summit of the Education Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN) have referred to as for a unified nationwide framework to coordinate efforts to guard faculties from assaults and different safety threats.
The stakeholders made the decision on Wednesday on the summit in Lagos, themed “Schools Under Threat: From Reactive Responses to Sustainable Protection.”
The stakeholders highlighted that Nigeria had launched a number of insurance policies and initiatives to enhance school safety. Still, weak coordination amongst authorities companies, safety authorities, state governments, faculties, communities and civil society organisations continued to undermine their effectiveness.
The summit featured a various lineup of audio system and panellists, together with the National Coordinator, Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria, Halima Iliya; Lagos Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun; Executive Director of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), Motunrayo Alaka; and different stakeholders in schooling and safety.
Identified gaps
Representing the summit chairperson, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, a professor and Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, Joseph Awoyinka mentioned fragmentation remained a serious hole in Nigeria’s method to school safety.
“Policy exists, but implementation is inconsistent,” mentioned Mr Ogundipe, who’s the Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He referred to as for a unified nationwide method that will align federal, state and native efforts, make clear tasks and strengthen accountability.
“Coordination should not depend on personality or political affiliation. It must be institutionalised,” he mentioned.
Mr Ogundipe additionally mentioned school safety ought to transcend bodily safety measures resembling perimeter fencing and surveillance cameras.
He referred to as for purposeful emergency preparedness plans in faculties, together with evacuation procedures, communication protocols, secure rooms and skilled personnel able to responding throughout emergencies.
He mentioned rural and conflict-prone faculties require specific consideration, whereas school safety must also be integrated into authorities budgeting and planning.
“For too long, our responses have been largely reactive, mobilising security after an incident, issuing statements of condemnation, and providing temporary relief to affected communities. While these actions are necessary, they are not sufficient,” Mr Ogundipe mentioned.
Existing interventions
Nigeria has had the Safe Schools Initiative since 2014, following the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State.
The nation additionally ratified the Safe Schools Declaration in 2019 and developed a National Plan on Financing Safe Schools for 2023-2026.
In her feedback, Ms Iliya mentioned the federal authorities had established a nationwide response coordination centre and carried out wants assessments to determine weak faculties and communities.
She mentioned the programme additionally concerned coaching dad and mom, academics, college students and group actors, whereas safety companies had been supported to enhance their capability to answer threats.
According to her, states are anticipated to combine the Safe Schools programme into their annual budgets.
Security companies
In his keynote handle, the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, represented by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, additionally referred to as for stronger coordination between safety companies, faculties and communities.
Mr Disu mentioned defending faculties sustainably requires shifting from responding to assaults after they happen to figuring out vulnerabilities, gathering intelligence, and stopping threats.
He urged school directors, academics, dad and mom, college students and group members to report credible safety considerations by way of acceptable channels.
He additionally harassed the significance of belief between safety companies and communities, saying efficient partnerships rely on skilled conduct, accountability and public confidence.
Mr Disu mentioned faculties ought to have safety preparations and emergency procedures suited to their places, sizes and ranges of vulnerability.
“The future of our nation depends, in no small measure, on the opportunities we create for our children today. Protecting those opportunities is a responsibility we must all take seriously,” he mentioned.
READ ALSO: FG approves N15bn for 2026 Safe Schools programme
Role of journalists
Ms Alaka mentioned schooling journalists even have a accountability to determine vulnerabilities earlier than they outcome in assaults.
She urged journalists to know what safe-school requirements ought to appear to be and to go to faculties frequently moderately than focusing solely on crises, authorities bulletins, or donations.
EWAN Chairperson Mojeed Alabi equally urged journalists to maneuver past reporting assaults after they occur and to analyze warning indicators, funding, emergency preparedness, and whether or not authorities implement promised safety measures.
Mr Alabi mentioned the effectiveness of school safety efforts ought to in the end be measured by whether or not kids can attend school with out worry, academics can educate safely and oldsters can confidently ship their kids to school.
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