Headmasters of several primary schools in Kano State have called on the state government to construct perimeter fences around their schools to address growing security concerns.
The headteachers made this appeal during a visit by members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). The journalists were on a fact-finding mission to assess the progress of the state of emergency declared by the government on education.
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Speaking during the visit, the headmaster of Dawakin Tofa Modern Primary School in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, Sabi’u Sunusi Idris, highlighted the challenges faced due to the absence of fencing.
“The lack of perimeter fencing has exposed our school to thieves. The situation is worsened by the absence of security guards, making it easy for them to steal valuables,” Idris said.
Similarly, Haruna Ibrahim, the headmaster of Chula Central Primary School in Ajingi Local Government Area, noted that the absence of fencing had turned his school into a thoroughfare. “Trespassers disrupt our lessons when they pass through the school with their vehicles, creating loud noises. We have no means to stop them because the school is not fenced,” Ibrahim lamented.
He further emphasized the dire need for additional security personnel, stating, “Currently, only one security guard is assigned to a school with 1,270 pupils and 12 teachers, which is grossly inadequate.”
In Warawa Local Government Area, Murtala Aliyu, the assistant headmaster of Garindau Central Primary School, explained that although their school is fenced, they require two more security guards to safeguard it effectively. “Just yesterday, thieves broke into the school and carted away valuables because we don’t have enough security,” Aliyu revealed.
These concerns come months after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf declared a state of emergency in the education sector. The governor described the declaration as a bold step to tackle the critical challenges facing the sector.
“Nearly four out of every five classrooms in our primary and junior secondary schools are marred by dilapidation and disrepair, rendering them unsuitable for the noble pursuit of knowledge,” Yusuf had stated in June.
The headmasters hope that the government’s commitment to improving education will include addressing the pressing security issues in schools.
