The National Safe School Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC) in Nigeria, under the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, is taking measures to enhance the safety of schools and students.
The center, established by the Federal Government, aims to coordinate safety and security responses to violence in schools and their surrounding communities.
In response to the increasing threats from terrorists and bandits targeting schools for attacks and abductions, the NSSRCC plans to train vigilantes, teachers, and other stakeholders in 821,000 primary and secondary schools across the country. The specialized training will focus on prevention and protection.
NSSRCC Commander, Hammed Abodunrin, revealed that personnel from the NSCDC and other security agencies have already undergone specialized training and are deployed to communities and schools.
The initiative is set to commence in February 2024, with stakeholders, including teachers, private security guards, vigilantes, and local hunters, receiving training at the state level.
Abodunrin emphasized the importance of a “train-the-trainers” approach, where selected individuals will undergo training at the state level and then pass on their skills to others in their communities.
This includes selecting at least one teacher per school to receive training at the community level, who will then share the knowledge within their respective schools.
With 821,000 schools surveyed for vulnerability assessment, Abodunrin acknowledged the challenge of reaching all teachers simultaneously.
However, he expressed confidence that phased training would effectively cover the diverse school landscape.
The NSSRCC Commander highlighted the personal responsibility aspect of security, stating that if communities are protected, schools within those communities will also benefit from increased security measures.
The Safe School Centre will monitor schools at the local level to ensure compliance with the recommended security measures.
the NSSRCC is taking a comprehensive approach to address the rising insecurity affecting schools by training various stakeholders and implementing a system to monitor and ensure the application of security measures at the local level.
