By Ahmed Ahmed
The Education Secretary Katagum Local Education Authority (LEA) Mr Adamu Alhaji has called for the construction of perimeter fencing around primary and secondary schools to ensure the safety of students and school premises.
Alhaji made this statement on Wednesday during a one-day dissemination exercise on the 2023 UNICEF survey outcome on the Safe School Initiative.
The exercise was organised by the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in partnership with the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office.
Alhaji explained that the event aimed to acquaint School Support Officers (SSOs) and inspectors with the findings and recommendations from the survey.
He noted that the survey provided valuable insights for education officials to respond effectively in their various capacities.
He mentioned that Katagum LGA has 173 primary and 31 secondary schools.
“We are disseminating the survey findings and recommendations of the 2023 Safe School Survey conducted by UNICEF in Bauchi to 25 School Support Officers and inspectors.
“These recommendations cover natural hazards, strong school systems, violence against children, everyday hazards, conflicts, and safe school infrastructure.
“With this information, we can prepare for the various challenges identified in the survey.”
He lamented the sharp drop in enrollment rates from 90 percent to 45 percent, attributing this decline to the absence of the Federal Government’s home school feeding program.
Alhaji called on School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) to actively engage communities in enrollment, retention, and transition efforts as key stakeholders in the education sector.
He acknowledged that SBMCs could play a vital role in implementing the Safe School Initiative and addressing the issue of out-of-school children in the area.
