Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has announced plans to relocate 359 schools from high-risk areas to safer communities within the state.
On March 7, bandits carried out mass abduction of over 250 pupils from the LEA primary school, Kuriga, with 167 of them released two weeks later following a military operation.
The governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Sani Kila, revealed these measures during a stakeholders forum and training session for the newly established Schools’ Protection Squad.
This initiative, part of the federal government’s Safe School Initiative, aims to enhance security measures to protect educational institutions, students and teachers from attacks orchestrated by bandits and terrorists.
Expressing concern over the disruptive impact of non-state actors on socio-economic activities, Governor Sani emphasised the critical importance of safeguarding the state’s educational sector.
He highlighted the alarming decline in school enrollment, noting a significant drop of over 200,000 primary school pupils during the 2022/2023 academic session compared to the previous year.
Governor Sani attributed the decline primarily to insecurity, particularly in areas such as Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru, Giwa and Igabi where ongoing insecurity has compelled the consolidation of schools, exacerbating the issue of out-of-school children.
“To ensure uninterrupted education for children residing in conflict-prone and terrorist-infested areas, this administration has commenced the merging of 359 schools with those situated in safer locations,” Governor Sani affirmed.
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