THE United Nations has called on Nigeria to prioritise school safety, learners’ protection over any considerations in opening of schools after a long closure due to COVID-19 pandemic.
A statement by United Nations office in Nigeria on Tuesday indicated that safeguarding education from attack was urgently needed to restore confidence in schools as places of protection for children and teachers.
The statement added that this was particularly pressing in light of COVID-19, which affected 46 million primary and secondary learners across Nigeria due to pandemic-related school closures.
The statement quoted the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Edward Kallon as saying, “As state governments plan to reopen schools after prolonged closures, building a resilient education system to withstand future shocks should be included in pandemic response plans.”
Kallon noted that prioritising safety in schools for educators and learners is an indication of the government’s commitment to protecting investments in the education sector and a validation of Nigeria’s endorsement of the Safe Schools Declaration.