FG Moves To Tackle School Abductions, Rolls Out Nationwide Safety Plan

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, disclosed this in Kano on Monday during a three-day training programme on the revised School-Based Management Committees (SBMC) operational documents, which brought together stakeholders from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

She explained that key issues such as school safety, education in emergencies, climate change, and gender-based violence have now been integrated into the updated SBMC guidelines to strengthen community involvement in safeguarding schools and ensuring continuous learning.

Represented by the Head of Community Engagement and Social Mobilisation at UBEC, Patricia Uche, Garba noted that the increasing incidents of banditry, kidnapping, and attacks on educational institutions necessitated the review of the operational framework.

She further stated that one of the major additions to the revised guidelines is the focus on education in crisis situations, stressing that recent security challenges have significantly affected schools and surrounding communities.

Uche added that the updated framework also introduces safe school initiatives, highlighting concerns that many public primary schools remain unfenced and exposed to security risks. She emphasized that the initiative seeks to encourage stronger community participation in identifying threats and advocating practical solutions to enhance safety for both learners and teachers.