Katsina State Government has inaugurated a steering committee to check attacks on public schools by terrorists and other criminal elements. Like most states in the North West, Katsina is bedevilled by security challenges brought about by activities of terrorists and kidnappers, with some of the casualties often being pupils of public schools. 

In December 2020, more than 300 students of Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Kankara Local Council, were abducted.

Also, seven pupils and a teacher were abducted by in Faskari Local Council in August 2021, a situation that led to closure of many schools, especially those within councils having security challenges.

Known as the State Safe School Steering Committee (SSSSC), the committee is to coordinate the domestication of Federal Government’s National Safe School Policy (NSSP).

The committee is also expected to develop a plan for implementation of safe school minimum standards, coordinate stakeholders involved in the implementation of safe school activities, prepare state budget for safe school and advocate funding provision in the state’s budget, among other responsibilities.

The committee, comprising representatives of various agencies in the education sector and security agencies, was inaugurated, yesterday, by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Halimatu Idris, is in collaboration with United Nations Children’s (UNICEF).

Consultant in charge of members’ responsibilities, Dr. Bulus Myfriend, said setting up the committee became pertinent in view of security challenges facing many schools in the state and beyond.

He said: “Most of our schools have been bedevilled by attacks by criminal elements and some others that just have no reason to attack our education. So, the government is working round-the-clock putting in place measures for us to take ownership and go back to our traditional way of doing things. 

“The steering committee should be able to put heads together and assist the teachers and learners by providing the enabling environment. This environment could be any form of assistance, so that our children will feel relaxed to go back to school to learn in a free and safe environment.”