Niger State Government in North Central Nigeria has directed the closure of all Public Secondary Schools for two weeks due to insecurity bedevilling parts of the state.
The Commissioner of education in the state, Hajia Hànnatu Salihu Jibrin stated this on Thursday through her press secretary Jibrin Usman Kodo during an emergency consultative meeting with the leadership of Association of the Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) and other stakeholders in the education sector.
“The closure of the schools is to commence from Friday, March 12 to Friday, March 26, 2021.
The two weeks closure of all Secondary Schools was necessary to give relevant Security Agencies the time and opportunity to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of all public secondary Schools in the state”, Jibrin said.
Niger State government had earlier closed down 22 boarding Schools after the kidnap of Kagara school children.
The exercise will provide an all-inclusive mechanism and strategies that will restore and guarantee sustainable security and safety of students, school infrastructure, education managers and Teachers in the state.
The Commissioner who used the opportunity to commend stakeholders in education for their patience, understanding and support in this trying time reiterated the government’s commitment to leave no stone unturned and ensure that all Schools are safe environments for effective teaching and learning.
The Niger State Commissioner for Education urged people in the state not to relent in their show of solidarity, cooperation and collaboration with government in the critical task of surmounting security challenges affecting school system in the state.
Nneka Ukachukwu
