Writing By Isma’il Adamu; Editing By Godwin Duru
The Katsina State Government says efforts are on top gear to domesticate the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools in the state.
Director Planning, Research and Statistics at the state Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Alhaji Nasir Ahmed, disclosed this in Katsina when he led members of the State Steering Committee on the Domestication of the policy on a working visit to the ministry.
The review process is being supported by Save the Children International (SCI) under the Education Cannot Wait First Emergency Response (ECW/FER) Project, preparatory to the domestication of the policy in states.
Ahmed explained that the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools in Nigeria is a comprehensive framework aimed at ensuring the safety and security of learners through deliberate and concerted efforts by government, communities and school managements.
He said the policy entails establishing prevention and response mechanisms at national, state, local government, and community levels and instituting an early warning and response system to avert potential cases of violence or security breach in schools.
The committee Chairman pointed out that the policy will focus on the prevention of bullying, violence, gang activity, substance abuse, rape, and external threats such as school abduction and other crimes that constitute safety or security risk to learners.
Ahmed briefed the Commissioner on key milestones achieved by the review committee so far, noting that some sections of the policy have been amended to align with local peculiarities in the state to facilitate smooth domestication.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Basic and Secondary Education, Malam Yusuf Suleiman, described the policy as a crucial step towards creating a safe and secure environment for learners in the country.
While highlighting some steps already taken by the state government to ensure safety in schools, the commissioner assured the committee of political will by the state government to domesticate the policy.
The state Steering Committee on Safe Schools is composed of representatives from key government ministries, security agencies, donor partners, the civil society, traditional institutions and community-based organizations.
Its responsibilities include coordinating the implementation of the National Safe School Policy, developing a state implementation action plan, monitoring progress, advocating for funding in the state budget, and maintaining data systems to track safety initiatives in schools.
Isma’il Adamu
