On Wednesday, more than 300 leaders from primary and secondary schools and members of school-based management committees (SBMCs) in Misau LGA of Bauchi State began a 3-day training on making schools safer. This training was organized by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).
Dr. Tushar Rane, who leads UNICEF’s work in Bauchi, explained the purpose of the training.
He said it aimed to help these leaders to become better at keeping schools safe and to strengthen teachers and community leaders on following guidelines for safe schools.
Dr. Rane mentioned that in Nigeria, there have been attacks on schools, causing many students to stop going to school because it’s not safe.
He emphasized how education is crucial for the well-being of society and for peace. However, not all children can benefit from education because sometimes schools are occupied by groups or because students are afraid of attacks, or even because of violence in schools.
He also talked about bullying in schools, saying it can have serious effects on mental health and cause students to drop out of school or not attend regularly.
Dr. Rane shared some statistics, saying that only about 43% of schools in Nigeria meet the minimum safety standards.
He mentioned that the Nigerian government has put in place various policies to keep students and teachers safe, both in and out of school.
These include the Safe Schools Initiative, making sure schools follow certain standards for safety, and having guidelines for schools to prevent violence.
In Bauchi State, UNICEF is helping to implement these safety standards in schools. They are training teachers and school leaders to respond to emergencies and to make sure schools are safe for everyone.
They are also working with the government to get more funding for safe schools and to set up committees to oversee safety measures.
Some of the people at the training thanked UNICEF for their support in improving education in the state. They promised to use what they learn to make schools safer in their area.
