Zamfara State has reopened 45 out of the 75 schools it closed down over insecurity, the Ministry of Education declared, yesterday, in Gusau.

Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Kabiru Attahiru, made the disclosure when he received members of the state’s Technical Team on Education in Emergencies (EiE), who paid an advocacy visit to the ministry.

The state government directed the shutdown of the schools in September 2021, following the abduction of students of Government Day Secondary School, Kaya, in Maradun Council.

“While reopening the schools, we categorised them into three groups: Green, Yellow and Red. Green are schools located in areas without security threats, Yellow is for schools in areas with little threat, while Red are for schools in areas with high risks,” Attahiru explained.

He said all the 75 schools fell into the Red group at the time of their closure, adding that it was dangerous to have allowed them to remain open.

He said: “Today, I am happy to inform you that as a result of improvement in security in the state, we reopened 45 out of the 75 schools, while only 30 remain shut.

“Government and security agencies have been working together to ensure improved security in the state.

We are hoping for more improvement in security so that we can reopen the remaining 30 schools.”

The permanent secretary commended the EiE team for the visit and assured them of the ministry’s commitment to partnering with all stakeholders to promote the education sector in the state.

Earlier, the team leader, Hajiya Sa’adatu Abdu-Gusau, said the visit was to advocate for the establishment of an Education in Emergencies Working Group (EiEWG) in the state.

Abdu-Gusau, who is the Director, Planning Research and Statistics in the ministry, said the visit was also part of activities to commemorate International Day of the Girl Child.