By Usman Oladimeji
As millions of students resume back to school today across the country, parents and guardians are left with one critical question ringing in their minds: Is our child truly safe in school?
While schools have rolled out the welcome drums and gates have been thrown open for a new academic session, the anxiety over the safety of our wards has refused to go away. For many parents, resumption is no longer just about buying new uniforms and textbooks; it is about uncertainty and fear.
In recent years, schools have unfortunately become one of the major targets for terrorists and bandits. From mass abductions to attacks on learning facilities, these incidents have dealt a heavy blow to the nation’s education system. The consequences are clear: more out-of-school children, traumatized pupils, and a loss of confidence in the school environment that should be a safe haven for learning.
This brings us to the pertinent question: What has the government and school administrators put in place to guarantee the safety of our children in their respective schools?
Last academic session alone, several disturbing cases of school attacks and security breaches were recorded across different states. Those incidents should have served as a wake-up call and raised major concerns for all stakeholders in the education sector.
As we celebrate this new resumption, beyond the usual fanfare, it is imperative for the Federal and State Governments to move beyond rhetoric. The Safe School Initiative must be fully implemented, not just on paper. School perimeters must be fenced and manned, security personnel must be deployed to vulnerable schools, early warning systems must be established, and community-based security collaboration must be strengthened.
Parents entrust schools with their most prized assets their children. That trust must not be betrayed.
Resumption should not just be safe on the road to school, it must be safe in school.
