Niger State Government has directed the closure of all public secondary schools for two weeks.
The closure will last from March 12 to March 26.
Commissioner of education Hannatu Salihu said on Thursday that the closure was to give security forces the time and opportunity to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of all public secondary schools.
This decision was taken during an emergency consultative meeting with the leadership of the Association of the Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS); Association of Model Islamic Schools (AMIS); executive chairman, Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB); heads of education agencies, directors of the ministry and other stakeholders of the sector.
The closure of schools comes in the wake of the abduction of scores of students and staff of Government Science College, Kagara. They were released after a week in captivity.
Salihu stated that the comprehensive risk assessment exercise, when completed, would provide an all-inclusive mechanism and strategies that would restore and guarantee sustainable security and safety of students, school infrastructure, education managers and teachers.
She called for the understanding and support of education actors, parents and communities while reiterating the government’s resolve to leave no stone unturned in ensuring all schools in the state are safe environments for effective teaching and learning.
