Kaduna State Government has taken a bold step in protecting children’s right to safe and secure education by becoming the first state in Nigeria to domesticate and implement the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools.
This was highlighted during a week-long training of new and existing school safety focal points and other education stakeholders on the policy’s minimum standards, held in Kaduna.
Speaking at the training, Mr. Badar Musa, Deputy Director of Advocacy, Campaign, Communication, and Media at Save the Children International (SCI), emphasized the urgency of addressing violence against children both in and around schools.
“Over the years, we have seen that children are not safe on their way to school, in school, or even when returning home.
“They are exposed to various forms of violence in their homes and communities, which has contributed to the rising number of out-of-school children in the state,” Mr. Badar stated.
He explained that the training aims to equip participants with the skills and strategies needed to tackle these safety challenges.
Participants include head teachers, teacher education managers, officials from the Ministry of Education, members of school-based management committees, and security agencies such as the police, civil defense, vigilante groups, and the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Mr. Badar stressed the importance of synergy among stakeholders. “No single agency can tackle these complex challenges alone,” he noted. “If we work together, we can ensure perpetrators are prosecuted and children are protected.”
He also revealed that Kaduna State has set an example for the country by being the first to adopt and adapt the policy locally.
He added that “Save the Children is currently supporting the state government to develop a costed master plan to ensure resources are provided for effective implementation.”
“This is a training-of-trainers approach. Once empowered, these master trainers will return to their communities to raise awareness and coordinate efforts to make schools truly safe,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Hassan Abdul, Deputy Project Coordinator, Reaching Out-School Children’s Project in Kaduna State, praised Kaduna’s pioneering efforts in school safety.
“This policy is a federal government initiative, and Kaduna has led the way by domesticating it.
“This training is designed to equip master trainers with the knowledge and skills needed to implement the policy effectively at the grassroots level,” he said.
Mr. Abdul urged participants to take the training seriously and use the knowledge to create safer learning environments.
“Safety and security are integral parts of education. I encourage trainees to fully engage, learn, and commit to passing this knowledge on to their communities,” he emphasized.
The training, organized under Save the Children’s Reaching Out-of-School Children Project, is preparing 50 master trainers drawn from various sectors and agencies across Kaduna State.
With these efforts, Kaduna is not only enhancing the safety of its schools but also providing a model for other states to follow in ensuring children can learn free from fear and violence.
COV: Adamu Yusuf
