CSOs raise alarm over growing attack on school children, teachers

Civil Society Organisations have raised alarm over the growing attack against schools across the country, stating that unless there is a national policy targeted at protecting children and teachers in schools, the prevailing situation will persist.

The group, which gathered in Abuja to assess the growing cases of attacks against schools across the country, especially in the Northern part, said proactive measures are urgently needed.

Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, (WARDC), Abiola Afolabi, blamed government for the prevailing situation, saying that threats to safe and secure schools remained a major government issue that must urgently be addressed in the country.

With over 11 million out of school children in the country, insurgents launched attacks on a school in Yobe state earlier this week and scores of female students were allegedly kidnapped. Afolabi insisted that a national policy on security and safety of school children would go a way to create a long term plan to enable the country mitigate the challenge, which is becoming a global issue, stating that there was need for collaborative efforts in addressing the issue.

Country Director, Plan International, Hussaini Abdu said the challenges facing the education of children in the country is becoming enormous and the number of teachers killed in schools across the country recently is alarming.