Ogbodo Ozioma Favour
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern over the impact of violent attacks on schools in Nigeria, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions.
According to UNICEF, these attacks have disrupted the education of over 1.3 million children, leading to precautionary school closures.
The UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate disclosed this in her message to commemorate the International Day of Education, calling for a multi-sectoral approach to improve school safety through comprehensive planning, coordination, and adequate resource allocation, especially in states with higher risks.
Despite the challenges, UNICEF acknowledged the progress made in providing access to education for 7.2 million children in humanitarian settings across Nigeria. This success was achieved through collaborative efforts with the government, donors, and partners.
“A recent evaluation indicates that on average, only 43 per cent of the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools are being met in about 6,000 assessed schools.
“This finding particularly highlights challenges in ensuring the safety of school infrastructure and in mitigating risks such as violence, conflict, and natural hazards.
“Nigeria has shown a commitment to creating safe school environments by endorsing the Safe Schools Declaration and developing the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools.”
