IDE: UNICEF urges FG, states to enhance schools’ safety

From Umar Dankano,Yola

The federal and state governments have been urged to enhance safe and quality learning standards in all schools across the country.
Critical stakeholders in education made the position known at a stakeholders round table meeting held in Yola, Adamawa state capital Wednesday as part of activity in commemoration of International Day for Education, IDE. for 2024.
During the round table meeting organised by the United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) issues observed to be addressed for safe learning include inadequate number of teachers, non attendance of classes by some teachers, non-completion of school syllabus, closure of some schools as a result of disasters, and use of school facilities for non-school activities.
Other challenges raised affecting the education are ; absence of perimeter walls in a number of schools, dearth of infrastructure and logistics, insufficient funding and monitoring and the existence of unqualified teachers in some instances.
It was unanimously agreed that, there is need for the governments and other stakeholders to enhance funding for the sector, ensure sturdy surveillance, and weed out unprofessional and unqualified teachers.
Earlier in his submission, the commissioner of Education, Dr. Umar Garba Pella said the state government has been doing it’s best by providing infrastructure for the over 8000 schools in the state.
Represented by the Director, Human capital development of the Ministry, Mohammed Nasidi.Pella added that the government is building more blocks of class rooms and instructional materials are being provided as well as sponsoring teachers on training and retraining courses.
He also acknowledged and appreciated the contributions from development partners including UNICEF for their numerous support (s) appealing for more.
In his goodwill speech, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Bauchi, Dr. Tushar Rane noted that the roundtable discussion was convened to deliberate on learning crisis in the state and how to mitigate identified challenges to deliver quality education and strengthens governance systems.