Lagos trains principals, head teachers on safety in schools undergoing construction

The Lagos State government, through its Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools (SCRPS), has organised safety consciousness training for principals and head teachers at the Tolu School Complex in Apapa, located within the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

The training is part of efforts to ensure the safety of students amid ongoing construction work in the complex, which houses 36 schools, comprising 16 senior secondary schools, 15 junior secondary schools, and five primary schools.

With construction underway for 12 new classroom blocks and the rehabilitation of 25 others at various stages, the training aimed to prepare school leaders for managing safety risks. The Tolu School Complex spans 11.3 hectares of land.

Speaking at the event, attended by approximately 90 principals and head teachers, the Chairman of SCRPS, Mr Hakeem Smith, explained that the initiative was designed to heighten safety awareness among all stakeholders to prevent accidents and incidents typically associated with construction activities.

He emphasised the importance of inducting teachers as safety marshals to promote safety consciousness, particularly on school construction sites. Smith noted that despite the high risk of accidents in such environments, many people often overlook safety precautions.

“There have been no major incidents in the past nine months of construction,” Smith said. “However, one bad occurrence can ruin everything, so we must remain vigilant and not take chances.”

He highlighted the presence of project officers in six areas and stressed the need to train teachers as safety marshals to prevent accidents, instill a culture of safety, and ensure adherence to safety standards in public schools across Lagos.

“These are standard procedures in construction,” he added. “We want to expand the number of people monitoring and ensuring compliance with safety standards. We’ve already trained the contractors, but we realised it’s not enough. Unsafe walkways and students walking carelessly show the need to broaden those responsible for safety.”

Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education Jamiu Alli-Balogun also spoke at the event, stressing the importance of safety awareness in the ongoing rehabilitation and construction projects at the Tolu School Complex.

With its 31 secondary schools and six primary schools, the Tolu School Complex has one of the largest concentrations of students in Africa.

To improve school safety management with ongoing projects, Alli-Balogun said the state had invited all principals and head teachers to ensure they are well-informed about safety protocols.

Adeyinka Adebiyi, lead trainer and retired Director of Public Safety and Well-being at the Lagos State Safety Commission, underscored the importance of conducting safety assessments before commencing projects in the state.