Sokoto defends metropolis-only school resumption

By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto

SOKOTO — The Sokoto State Government has defended its decision to reopen only schools within the state capital, saying the continued closure of schools outside the metropolis is a security measure taken in compliance with a directive from the Federal Government.

Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Muhammad Ladan Ala, stated this on Monday in Sokoto while briefing journalists on the status of schools following the recent resumption arrangement.

Ala explained that schools within the Sokoto metropolis were currently operating, while those outside the designated area remained closed pending further directives from the appropriate authorities.

“What we said is that schools within Sokoto metropolis are the ones that are in operation. Other schools that are not within Sokoto metropolis are still closed. We are awaiting directives from the top so that they will go ahead,” he said.

He said the metropolis, for the purpose of the arrangement, covered Kware, Dange-Shuni, Wamakko, Sokoto North and Sokoto South Local Government Areas.

The commissioner said the government would not compromise the safety of pupils and students in its determination to reopen schools, stressing that security considerations remained paramount.

“Security is more important than anything you are thinking about. It is only when you have security, when you have peace, then you will be able to go to your farms, you will be able to go to your school,” Ala said.

He disclosed that the state’s Safe School Initiative remained operational, with the ministry maintaining regular consultations and engagements with security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Police and Department of State Services.

According to him, the ministry had also participated in strategic meetings in Abuja aimed at strengthening security around schools and other educational institutions, particularly against threats capable of disrupting academic activities.

Ala said the government was also strengthening community-based surveillance through School-Based Management Committees, Parent-Teacher Associations and vigilante groups across the local government areas.

“We are working with our SBMCs, with our PTA, in fact with the vigilante groups in the various local governments,” he said.

He urged the groups to conduct coordinated surveillance visits to schools, adding that vigilante personnel had been encouraged to maintain a visible presence around schools, particularly in communities where students commute from surrounding villages.

This, he said, would enable security intervention to be activated quickly whenever an alarm was raised.

The commissioner clarified that although the state government had identified some local government areas as relatively safe, security remained principally a federal responsibility, making compliance with the directive on school closures imperative.

On allegations regarding the feeding of students in boarding schools, Ala dismissed claims that principals were being given funds to feed students, describing the reports as inaccurate.

“There is no principal that is giving any money. The money is paid to the contractors,” he said.

He explained that contractors engaged by the state government supplied food to schools on a rotational weekly basis, adding that the arrangement was supervised by a committee established by the governor to ensure accountability, transparency and compliance with approved standards.

“The contractors are being rotated among the schools so that you don’t become so used to the food,” he said.

Ala also disclosed that the ministry had intensified health and disease prevention measures in schools through its Health Coordinator and collaboration with the State Ministry of Health.

He said the government had taken steps to address diphtheria and other communicable diseases, adding that drugs were supplied to principals of girls’ schools last year as part of efforts to strengthen school health services.

According to him, school supervision had also been expanded to cover 30 key performance indicators, including sanitation, hygiene and other conditions required for a safe and conducive learning environment.

On transportation, the commissioner said the state government had deployed free buses to convey students within the metropolis and those travelling from surrounding communities.

“The buses are free of charge, within the town and outside. Every morning we send them to bring students. By 2 o’clock, the buses will convey them back to their respective villages or bus stops,” he said.

Ala maintained that the government’s overriding objective was to ensure that the resumption of academic activities did not expose students to avoidable security risks.

He assured parents and other stakeholders that the government would continue to monitor the security situation and respond to directives from the relevant authorities before extending the resumption arrangement to schools currently under closure.

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