The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed deep concern over the widespread lack of infrastructure, physical safety, and psychological stability in many schools, severely impacting the safety of learning and teaching.
This assertion was made by Education Specialist Abdulrahman Ibrahim Ado of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office during opening remarks at a one-day state-level sensitization meeting on Bauchi State’s implementation of minimum standards for safe schools.
The meeting was organized by the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in collaboration with UNICEF on Tuesday.
Ado highlighted that UNICEF conducted a survey in 2023 to assess the state of safe schools in Bauchi State, revealing a troubling situation requiring urgent attention from all stakeholders.
He emphasized that children in these schools face various forms of insecurity, both physical and psychological, which hinder their education.
He noted, “The most alarming aspect is that children often do not know where or to whom to report these issues. UNICEF aims to change this by providing solutions to these problems.”
Ado stressed the importance of every school having a designated Safe School Focal Officer to whom children can report any concerns. He assured that UNICEF will continue supporting the government in ensuring safe learning environments across the state.
During the presentation on Bauchi State’s safe schools scorecard, Independent Education System Strengthening Consultant Saleh Muhammad underscored, “Fulfilling children’s right to education in Nigeria remains challenged by prolonged conflicts, increasing hostilities, and escalating climate-related hazards, exacerbating the out-of-school crisis affecting 680,082 children in Bauchi State.”
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Muhammad added, “As part of efforts to institutionalize school safety, the Nigerian government developed the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools (MSSS), outlining essential conditions schools must meet to ensure children’s safety.”
He elaborated that the MSSS covers six result areas: Strong School Systems, Violence Against Children, Natural Hazards, Conflict and Everyday Hazards, and Safe School Infrastructure, each with guidelines for mitigating risks and safeguarding children’s well-being. Muhammad highlighted UNICEF’s role in developing and piloting a monitoring tool in 2023 to assess MSSS implementation across 10 states, including Bauchi.
The methodology involved selecting states based on criteria such as high rates of primary and junior secondary school dropouts, insecurity, and incidents of school attacks. Trained EMIS officers collected data, surveying 5,993 schools in round 1 (mid-2023) and 6,638 schools in round 2 (late 2023), with 387 schools surveyed in Bauchi in round 1 and 395 in round 2, of which 317 participated in both rounds.
Muhammad noted that while progress was seen in some areas, there were significant challenges, particularly in Safe School Infrastructure and addressing Everyday Hazards like nutrition, water, sanitation, and health needs. Overall, Bauchi State’s average score increased by four percentage points from 40% in mid-2023 to 44% by late 2023.
In conclusion, Muhammad emphasized the importance of strengthening school systems, addressing violence against children, enhancing preparedness for natural hazards, and improving infrastructure to ensure safer learning environments for all children in Bauchi State.
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