Ahead of the resumption of schools, Niger State government plans to reopen 11 of the 42 public schools that were closed due to security concerns
In 2021, the Niger State government closed 42 public schools due to frequent attacks by bandits. Some of the schools were later reopened, but 11 remained closed because they were more vulnerable to attack.
The female students in the state were predominantly impacted, particularly by the abduction of 99 girls from Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School in Tegina, located in the Rafi Local Government Area (LGA).
Despite efforts by the state government, local government, and communities to secure their release, the students, mostly female and children, spent nearly 90 days in the kidnappers’ hideout.
Certain schools slated for reopening are situated in the local government areas of Wushishi, Lavun, and Gurara within the state.
The Commissioner for the state Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Hadiza Mohammed who held an emergency meeting with major stakeholders in the education sector in Minna yesterday, said that the decision to reopen the schools was made because of improved security in the affected communities.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), school heads, and the Association of Nigeria Community Primary Schools (ANCOPSS).
The Commissioner said “The Ministry has concluded Plans to establish an online data capturing of all teachers as part of the preparation for the reopening of the schools. Indexing of students will now be initiated right from the Early Child Education (ECCDE) class to the Senior Secondary class (SSS) and Early Child Care Department Education has been made compulsory as no child will be admitted into primary class without undergoing ECCDE.