Bauchi and Gombe governments have initiated the implementation of the National Safe School Plan introduced by the federal government amid a spate of attacks on the learning environment.
The federal government unveiled the N145.8 billion National Plan on Financing Safe Schools in December 2022, to be implemented between 2023 and 2026.
It also earmarked N15 billion to facilitate the programme’s implementation this year in 48 schools selected from 18 states nationwide. The states may budget for the programme to augment the federal government’s gesture.
A check by journalists in Bauchi and Gombe showed that the states are at various implementation stages of the programme.
In Bauchi, the state government had identified 48 schools for participation in the safe school programme.
Ali Gar, the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Bauchi State Ministry of Education, reiterated the government’s commitment to keying into the programme.
According to Mr Gar, adequate provisions have been made in the proposed 2024 budget to fast-track implementation of the programme in the state.
He said the ministry had designated a safe school desk officer and set up a technical committee to enhance awareness creation and community engagement in the programme.
“What we are waiting for now is whether they will release the fund for its commencement in earnest or if it is the Federal Ministry of Finance that will come and execute the work,” he said.
Also commenting, DSC Ibrahim Gabdo, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) spokesperson, Bauchi State Command, said the corps was working in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to facilitate the successful implementation of the programme.
In the same vein, the NSCDC has urged the Gombe government to construct perimeter fences in some unfenced schools across the state.
The commandant of the corps, Mohammed Muazu, said, “Some public schools are porous without perimeter fences, and there is a need for the government as a matter of urgency to do what is necessary to safeguard the schools.”
Also, Mohammed Jibrin, UNICEF focal officer in Gombe State, said the safe school programme focused on five of the 11 LGAs.
He said the programme targeted 70 schools, comprising 40 basic and 30 post-basic schools in Gombe, Nafada, Kwami, Kaltungo, and Dukku LGAs.
Mr Jibrin said the state government had trained 350 head teachers, representatives of the security outfits, traditional rulers, and members of the school-based management committees.
He said the government also inaugurated a state-level committee headed by the Gombe State House of Assembly Committee on Education chairman, Shu’aibu Adamu.
(NAN)
