Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State expressed deep concern on Wednesday regarding the notable decline in student enrolment within the state’s schools. He attributed this worrisome trend to the pervasive insecurity stemming from incidents such as kidnapping and banditry.
Governor Sani revealed that in response to the security challenges, the government had initiated plans to relocate 359 schools located in areas heavily impacted by terrorism to safer locations where they would be merged with other schools. He made this announcement during the inauguration of a one-day capacity-building program organized by the Nigeria Police Force School Protection Squad in Kaduna.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Governor Sani referred to incidents like the abduction of 135 students from the LEA Primary and Junior Secondary School in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area, underscoring the dire consequences of insecurity on education access and safety.
The theme of the capacity-building program, “Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities in the Protection of Education,” was deemed highly relevant by Governor Sani given the current circumstances.
Governor Sani further lamented the alarming decrease in school enrolment rates across Kaduna State due to insecurity, emphasizing the significant impact of non-state actors such as bandits and terrorists on socio-economic activities and educational programs. He cited a notable decline of over 200,000 primary school pupils in the 2022/2023 academic session compared to the previous year, attributing this decline primarily to insecurity.
The governor specifically noted the adverse effects of insecurity on various local government areas, including Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru, Giwa, and Igabi, where school consolidation became necessary due to safety concerns, exacerbating the issue of out-of-school children.
Governor Sani commended the proactive initiative of the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, in establishing the Schools Protection Squad. This initiative aims to enhance security and safety measures within educational institutions across Nigeria, addressing the critical need for safeguarding students and educators amidst prevalent security challenges.
