Insecurity: Niger to Reopen Some Shut Public Schools

Laleye Dipo in Minna

Not less than 11 out of the 42 public schools shut across Niger State as a result of insecurity and banditry might be reopened from the next academic year.

The 42 schools were shut way back in 2021 following frequent kidnaps of students especially girls. The highest point was the kidnap of 99 girls from Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School Tegina in Rafi Local Government Area, where the students spent close to 88 days in the den of kidnappers.

The government, according to a reliable source close to the Ministry of Education, was still closely watching the security situation as it affects\ed the communities where the remaining 31 schools were located.

Some of the schools to be reopened are located in Lavun, Gurara, and Wushishi local government areas of the state.

A statement from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education  signed by Jibrin Usman Kodo the Information Officer on behalf of the commissioner, Hajia Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, stated that the decision to reopen the schools followed improvement in the security situations in the affected areas.

The statement stated that the decision to reopen the schools had been conveyed to major stakeholders in the education sector, including Officials of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), those of  the Parents Teachers Association (PTA),Heads of Schools as well as officials of the ANCOPSS, saying, as part of the preparation for the reopening of the schools, an online data capturing of all teachers would commence soon

The statement further  disclosed  that, “indexing of students” would now be initiated right from the Early Child Education (ECCDE) class to Senior Secondary class (SSS) and that Early Child Care Department Education has been made compulsory as no child would be admitted into primary class without undergoing ECCDE.

In addition the statement explained that the ministry has concluded plans to establish Quality Assurance Offices in all the 25 local government areas in the state and also provide them with adequate teaching and learning materials,warning that,  “indiscipline either by the students or teachers will not be tolerated.”

It also added: “There will be sanctions for principals, who indulge in the collection of unnecessary fees from students” stressing that the ministry was looking at ways of  improving feeding of boarding school students just as plans were underway to organise teachers summit.