As the world commemorates 2024, International Day to Protect Education from Attack, the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Nigeria has organised a Two (2) Days Workshop aimed at marking the day in Yola, Adamawa State Capital.
The event was organised by Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Nigeria with support from Plan International EU-INTPA Project on "Strengthening Civil Society to Enhance Education for all in Northern Nigeria".
It was organised to commemorate the day by brainstorming on the Safe School Declaration(SSD) and National Policy on school safety and violence-free school and role of stakeholders giving the spate of attacks on children and schools in the Northeast, Northwest and some parts of the state.
It availed the participants the opportunity to extensively deliberate on the Nigeria policy on school safety and violence free schools and had a better understanding on the policy, roles of relevant stakeholders towards ensuring safe schools.
The workshop, which was held at Mamma Chare Hotel in Yola, Adamawa State, attracted stakeholders including the Ministries of Education and Human Capital Development, Women and Social Development and State Board on Mass Education.
Others include Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board, representatives of the Nigeria Army, Police, Department of the State Security, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) among others.
Cross section of participants observed with dismay how different patterns of violence against schools and learners in Nigeria is creating a great a challenge in inculcating values, respect and tolerance for individual difference, non-discrimination, conflict resolution, communication and other foundational life skills in learners.
Addressing the participants, the Education Officer of FAWE, Ibrahim Bello, said that the International Day to Protect Education from Attack is a global event that is marked on the 9th September.
He said that it is a common knowledge that over the years education has come under serious attacks globally, and especially in some parts of Nigeria from armed bandits, insurgents and natural disasters.
According to him, since 2013 there about 10,000 attacks against schools globally and that 500 out of these attacks were documented in South Sudan / Yemen since 2017, adding that since year 2000 till date almost 35,000 children have died as a result of attacks in schools around the world.
He expressed optimism that at the end of the activity the participants will have a better understanding of the policy, roles of different stakeholders towards the implemention of the policy, build synergy across various sectors towards harmonious implementation of the policy.
During presentations shortly after a group work session, the representatives of the security, identified lack of funding, logistics and lack of collaboration and corporation from the citizens and how people or communities harbour or shield criminals, and advocated for better funding, logistics support and intelligent gathering among others.
On their part, the line MDAs and Civil Society Organisations, said that there should be partnership among the stakeholders, creation of awareness, and increase in budgetary allocation, appointment of focal person for schools among other actions points.
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