CSO makes case for full implementation of Safe School Declaration

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

A civil society group, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) has called for full implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD), in the country.

This came as it said the lack of an effective and coordinated partnership between the government, CSOs, and other relevant stakeholders on implementing the SSD programs has been limited, leading to low demand for accountability from the government.

The group expressed worry that since 2018 when the Nigerian government adopted the Safe Schools Declaration, the policy is yet to be fully implemented just as it observed that schools do not comply with the standard protocols in line with the SSD project.

It equally observed that while over the years, there have been efforts at knowledge building about the SSD among some sections of the Civil Society Organizations in the country, public knowledge of the policy was still near zero.

Recall that Nigeria adopted the Safe School Declaration in 2018 to combat the problem of lack of safety and security in schools.

Recall also that the Nigerian government, in the closing days of 2022, signed and launched a N144.8 billion Safe Schools Financing Plan, which it said would be implemented between 2023 and 2026.

According to the government, the plan will complement the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools,NPSSVFS, with its implementing guidelines, adopted in 2021.

But speaking on Thursday in Abuja, during her welcome address at a Two-day Train the Trainers Workshop on Legislative Advocacy for Community Leaders, CSOs and School Administrators for Effective Implementation of Safe Schools Policies in Nigeria, Founding Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center, (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, observed that although plans are said to be underway, the federal government is yet to implement the SSD as well as put in place structures to that effect.

Represented by WARDC Senior Programme Officer, Grant, Emmanuellea Azu, she said “The insecurity in Nigeria made schools very unsafe due to incidents of kidnapping and others in school and the number of kidnapping in school has since increased.

“The trainer’s Workshop is expected to create a better understanding of the safe schools declaration and how to get involved in the process and support its implementation in our various states.

She further noted “The aim is to increase public awareness on SSD, seek the formula and adoption of a legal framework on the SSD and to establish effective working partnership.

Also speaking on the central pace of advocacy in the promoting implementation of the SSD, Coordinator, Gender Equality, Peace and Development, Professor Patricia Donli, from the university of Maiduguri, during her lecture said the purpose of advocacy is to enhance understanding of the issue under discussion.

On his part a lecturer at the University of Lagos, Dr. Akintayo Afolabi noted that most advocacies are tied to human rights issues such as the call for implementation of the SSD in Nigeria.

Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi called for the full implementation of the SSD at all levels of government to ensure the protection of the education of the adoption of the SSD.

He highlighted the role of advocacy to include giving voice to issues of public concern and setting agenda as well as the promotion of human rights observance among others.

The safe schools declaration is an inter-governmental political commitment dedicated to protecting education in armed conflict.