Nigeria is set to host the 4th International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration from Monday to Wednesday next in Abuja, along side other countries like Argentina, Norway, Spain, the African Union Commission, and GCPEA
According to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, The event “seeks to galvanize action to protect education from attack.”
The conference with the theme: ”Ensuring Safe Education for All: From Commitment to Practice”, is coming against the background of continuous attacks on schools and students across the world.
The Conference on Safe schools Declaration is a biennial event with the aim of taking stock and reviewing progress in implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration ,SSD, and the guidelines for protecting schools and universities from military use during armed conflict, as well as encouraging commitment and action in protecting education from attack.
“With the incessant attacks on education which is further compounded with the COVID 19 situation, you will agree with me that there is high need to better protect education for improved educational outcomes,” Echono explained.
The Abuja Conference is the Fourth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration, and first to be held on the African continent.
The previous conferences (1st, 2nd & 3rd conferences) were held in 2015, 2017 and 2019 in Oslo Norway, Buenos Aires Argentina and Palma de Mallorca, Spain respectively.
The permanent secretary explained that, “The 4th International Conference on Safe School Declaration (ICSSD) will build on previous conferences by galvanizing support for the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD) and monitoring UN member states’ progress in carrying out the Declaration’s commitments to better protect learners and learning institutions.”
“The Conference will also serve to maintain and amplify momentum of the SSD and its commitment to make safe education for all a reality
“The Declaration was drafted through a consultative process led by Norway and Argentina and was opened for endorsement at an international conference held in Oslo, Norway, in May 2015,“ Echono added.
“The Declaration has served as an effective tool for protecting students and educators from attacks perpetrated by armed forces and armed groups, since 2015. Since then, a significant majority of UN member states numbering 112 (more than half of all UN Member States), representing all regions of the globe including Nigeria, have endorsed the Declaration.”
