Kaduna govt reaffirms commitment to safe schools

The Kaduna State Government has reiterated its commitment to creating a safe, secure, and violence-free environment conducive to effective learning across all schools in the state.

The assurance was given by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Sani Sambo, on Wednesday during the dissemination of the 2024/2025 Annual School Report held in Kaduna. The event also featured the presentation of the state’s Safety, Security, and Violence-Free School Policy, designed to protect learners and education stakeholders.

Organised by the Kaduna State Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics, the event received support from key development partners, including UNICEF, Save the Children, the AGILE Project, PLANE, and the Reaching Out-of-School Children Project.

Prof. Sambo praised the consistency and commitment of these partners in championing safe and inclusive education in the state. He noted that Kaduna has made history as the first state in Nigeria to domesticate the National Policy on School Safety—a milestone that reflects the government’s dedication to making schools safe and conducive for learning.

He emphasised that strategic leadership, sustained implementation, and strong collaboration among stakeholders are essential to achieving the goals of the policy.

“Our focus remains on transforming education, reducing the number of out-of-school children, and improving learning outcomes, all within safe and supportive school environments,” Sambo said, adding that student and teacher welfare are critical to the success of the initiative.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Bukar Alhaji, the State Statistician General, highlighted the importance of data in driving evidence-based education reforms. He described the Annual School Census as a vital tool for gathering and updating accurate data on school operations across the state.

Presenting an overview of the new policy, Salisu Lawal, Director of Planning at the Ministry of Education, described it as a crucial framework for protecting learners. He stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration, community engagement, and stakeholder participation to ensure the successful implementation of the policy.

Lawal also noted that Kaduna is one of the few Nigerian states with current and reliable school data. He urged the Federal Government and development partners to leverage the Annual School Census report for informed planning and equitable resource distribution.

He thanked all stakeholders and partners for their continued support in advancing the state’s education sector.

In their remarks, development partners reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the state’s efforts, pledging to continue working toward ensuring that no child is left behind or exposed to harm in the pursuit of education.