The Kaduna State Government has prohibited all social events, weddings, shows, and entertainment on school grounds.
Dr Yusuf Saleh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.
According to Saleh, the move was made to protect school infrastructure from vandals.
“For a long time, some of our schools were used for a variety of activities, and at the end of the day, school facilities were vandalized.”
“Every day, we receive complaints and demands from citizens to build, renovate, or repair one or more facilities in schools, which costs a lot of money.”
“As a result, it is critical to take proactive steps to protect the school’s infrastructure, and this is one of them,” he explained.
He revealed that a circular had already been sent to all secondary and primary school principals and heads, instructing them to stop renting out school facilities for events and social gatherings.
He stated that some of the schools do not have fences, but that plans are in the works to build perimeter fences in all schools across the state.
He also stated that the ministry was strengthening its partnership and collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs and the Kaduna State Vigilant Service in order to provide the necessary security in schools.
According to him, the efforts will aid in addressing the security issues that have hampered the smooth operation of some schools in the state.
Mr Tijjani Aliyu, Citizens Co-Chair, Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM), reacted to the development by commending the state government for responding to citizens’ calls to protect school facilities.
He claims that the move will reduce the amount of damage to school facilities caused by social events held on school grounds.
He stated that KADBEAM urged the government to find a long-term solution to the wanton destruction of school facilities during a stakeholders’ dialogue on the challenges confronting girls’ education in the state.
He went on to say that stakeholders at the engagement, which was sponsored by the Partnership to Engage, Reform, and Learn, a UK governance program, stressed the importance of community members assisting the government in maintaining school facilities.