By PHILIP YATAI
The Kaduna State Government has banned all social events, weddings, shows and entertainment in public school premises.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr Yusuf Saleh, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.
Saleh said that the move was to protect school infrastructure from vandals.
“For a very long time some of our schools were being used for all kinds of activities, and at the end of the day, school facilities were being vandalised.
“Every day, we receive complaints and demands from citizens to construct, renovate, or fix one facility or the other in schools, and this involves a lot of money.
“It is, therefore, critical to take proactive steps to protect the school’s infrastructure and this is one of such steps,” he said.
He disclosed that a circular had already been sent to all the Principals and Head Teachers in secondary and primary schools, directing them to stop giving out school premises for events and social gatherings.
He said that some of the schools do not have fences, stressing that plans were underway to construct perimeter fences in all schools across the state.
He added that the ministry was also strengthening partnership and collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs and Kaduna State Vigilant Service, to provide the needed security in schools.
According to him, the efforts will help address the security challenges affecting smooth operation of some schools in the state.
Reacting to the development, Mr Tijjani Aliyu, Citizens Co-Chair, Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM), commended the state government for responding to citizens’ call to protect school facilities.
The move, he said, will reduce the level of destruction of school facilities due to social events being hosted in school premises.
He said that KADBEAM at a stakeholders’ dialogue on challenges confronting girls education in the state, urged the government to find a lasting solution to the wanton destruction of school facilities.
He added that stakeholders at the engagement, supported by Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn, a UK governance programme, noted the need for community members to support the government in maintaining school facilities. (NAN)
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