December 20, (THEWILL) – The Kaduna state government has banned all social events, weddings, shows and entertainment on public school premises.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr Yusuf Saleh, who made this known during a chat with newsmen in Kaduna, said the move ks to protect school infrastructure from vandals.
“For a very long time some of our schools were being used for all kinds of activities, and at the end of the day, school facilities were being vandalised. Every day, we receive complaints and demands from citizens to construct, renovate, or fix one facility or the other in schools, and this involves a lot of money. It is, therefore, critical to take proactive steps to protect the school’s infrastructure and this is one of such steps,” he said.
Saleh said a circular has already been sent to all the principals and head teachers in secondary and primary schools, directing them to stop giving out school premises for events and social gatherings.
He said that some of the schools do not have fences, stressing that plans are underway to construct perimeter fences in all schools across the state.
Saleh said the Ministry of Education is also strengthening partnerships and collaborations with the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs and Kaduna State Vigilant Service, to provide the needed aquarium in schools.
According to him, the efforts will help address the security challenges affecting the smooth operation of some schools in the state.
Reacting to the development, Citizens Co-Chair, Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism, Tijjani Aliyu, commended the state government for responding to citizens’ call to protect school facilities.
The move, he said, will reduce the level of destruction of school facilities due to social events hosted on school premises. He said that KADBEAM, at a stakeholders’ dialogue on challenges confronting girls education in the state, urged the government to find a lasting solution to the wanton destruction of school facilities.
Aliyu added that stakeholders at the engagement, supported by Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn, a UK governance programme, noted the need for community members to support the government in maintaining school facilities.
About the Author
