DHQ launches guidelines for safe school initiative

The Defence Headquarters, on Thursday, launched its Standard Operating Procedure for the Safe School Initiative.

The Safe School Initiative was launched in 2014 after the abduction of about 300 school girls from Chibok, Borno State, as part of efforts to ensure that children in conflict areas or affected by insecurity continue with their education.

The initiative is largely implemented by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps with the support of other security agencies.

The launch of the SOP for the military personnel that would be involved in the initiative was coming after abductions of school children in Kaduna, where 287 pupils were kidnapped and 15  Tsangaya studentsSokoto State.

Speaking at the launch of the SOP, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said the SOP would provide necessary guidelines for members of the Armed Forces to implement the Safe Schools Initiative within the confines of international and national laws.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains committed to providing every necessary assistance for the security of school children and other learning institutions against attacks within the ambit of Nigeria’s constitution.

“The volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous nature of the current security environment requires better synergy among the military and other security agencies,” he added.

He, however, called on the stakeholders to work together so as to ensure school children are safe in school.

Musa said, “The success of such an initiative without doubt will require the uttermost commitment of all stakeholders who particularly are looked up to by the citizens of the country for their security and safety.  It is therefore in the interest of our dear nation that every stakeholder works assiduously to build a strong, safer, more secure, and prosperous future for our children and our beloved country.”

Delivering the keynote address, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (retd.) said the success of the initiative depends on the collective responsibility of stakeholders and citizens by taking ownership and providing intelligence to security agencies.

He said the move reflects the Armed Forces’ collective commitment to upholding the sanctity of education and creating a conducive environment for teaching and learning to thrive.

He said “Regrettably for learners as well as teachers currently in schools, the fear of them becoming possible victims and the trauma created by having their fellow students and friends attacked is having a negative impact on the quality of education in our Country.

“This initiative must be a collective responsibility of all our communities. Our citizens at all levels of government, the civil society and NGO’s must resolve to have safe schools environment for our children by always providing the necessary vital information which is to be acted upon for the good of all.

“Accordingly, all of us must take collective responsibility and ownership for the development of this safety initiative.”

The Head of Financing, Safe Schools Secretariat and Technical Working Committee, Ministry of Finance, Halima Iliya, said Nigeria’s educational system has always been in deep crisis ranging from kidnapping and terror attacks.

She said the safe school initiative was delayed due to a lack of policy and budgetary allocations to provide needed support.