Buhari Blames Bandits, Boko Haram For Increase In Out-Of-School Children

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that more than 12 million children in the country are traumatized and afraid of going to school.

He said this while delivering his keynote address at the 4th International Conference on Safe Schools Declaration, which held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The President, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, said it has been tough dealing with the numerous security challenges plaguing the nation and their effects.

“I must tell you that it has been tough dealing with these security challenges and their effect. Moving forward, our faith in the nation is unshaken. We have been strong, determined and robust in order to enhance the security of learning institutions and the occupants therein,” he said.

Buhari identified banditry, activities of Boko Haram and other security challenges facing the education sector as contributing to the number of out-of-school children in the country.

“The incessant attacks on the country’s education system such as kidnapping, abduction of pupils/students, increased activities of insurgence and general insecurity in our schools have exacerbated many factors responsible for the growing number of Out-of-School children.

“It is no longer news that at will, bandits, kidnappers and terrorists invade our educational facilities to abduct the learners in large numbers. Some places that have been hit by these menaces include Chibok, Dapchi, Buni Yadi, Afaka, kagora, and Jangebe in Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara states respectively,” he said.

He said that even when the abducted students are released, the trauma of the incidences remain long in their minds thus, a plan is being implemented to have teachers trained on psycho-social support.

He also revealed that according to a report by S.B Morgen, a total of 1,462 learners and education personnel were abducted between 1st December 2019 and September 2021 in school-related abductions as well as home and community- related abductions of students and teachers.

“The highest number of abductions in a single kidnap (327 learners) was recorded in Zamfara while Kaduna has experienced the greatest number of incidences of attack on education. Out of 19 educational institutions attacked, 12 representing 63%, were secondary schools while 5 which represented 26% were within the tertiary educational system.

“Non-formal education was not spared from attack as about 200 students of Islamiyya School, Tegina in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State were reportedly abducted on Sunday on the 30th of May 2021. Sadly the life of one learner was lost. A total of 17 lives of teachers and learners have been lost in these abductions,” he said.

Buhari said that on the other hand, for learners currently in school the fear and trauma created by having their fellow students and friends attacked has impacted negatively on the quality of schooling, as concentration and attention span for learning in such conditions have waned.

He said despite all the incidents, the government is highly committed to prioritizing safety in schools to protect investments in the education sector which would validate the endorsement of the Safe Schools Declaration.

According to him, the government is mindful of the fact that it has the primary responsibility of protecting and ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels for all learners, especially those in vulnerable situations.

To this effect, he said, the National Council for Education (NCE) in its recently concluded session in Jalingo, Taraba State (9th- 13th August 2021) approved the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools and its Implementation Guidelines, as well as minimum standards for safe schools as reference documents for all Education Stakeholders

He said they also took major positive decisions on a number of things including, issues of security and violence and its negative effects on enrolment, retention and completion rate and training of teachers on psycho-social support and allocation of certain percentage of deployed Federal Teachers Scheme (FTS) and N-Power teachers to the IDP camps.

The president said decisions were also taken concerning the provision of adequate security and protection for teachers in tertiary institutions in the communities that are prone to crises, as well as advocacy and sensitization programmes to enhance the implementation of Safe Schools Declaration (SSD), appointment of SSD Desk Officers and capacity building programmes for them based on the peculiarities in their domains; and capacity building on safety and security to mitigate the incidence of casualties among teachers and intended provision of hazard allowances and life assurance for effective discharge of their duties.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, listed some of the number of attacks and kidnappings that the education sector has suffered.

He began with the February 2014 massacre of 59 boys at the Federal Government College of Buni Yadi in Yobe State as well as the burning of 24 buildings in the school, followed by the abduction of 276 girls from Government Girls Secondary School Chibok in Borno State while writing final exams in Physics and the May 30 2021 kidnap of 100 school children from an Islamiyyah (Muslim) school in Niger state.

“The list appears to be endless and reoccurring. Most of these abducted students were released after ransom was allegedly paid, some were killed and others who were rescued or survived in most cases, became traumatized.

“Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the hosing of this Conference in Nigeria therefore is apt and timely in view of the above prevailing security challenges. It is my belief that the outcome of this Conference will help to strengthen and protect the educational system here in Nigeria and be a win for not just Nigeria but for the global community as well,” he said.