The Federal Ministry of Education has called on all Nigerians to ensure schools remain safe environments where children can learn and teachers can teach without fear.
The ministry made the call in a statement shared on its official Twitter handle on Saturday to mark the International Day to Protect Education from Attack.
Permanent Secretary Abel Enitan, represented by the ministry’s Director of HRM, Dr. Saheed Yusuf, emphasised in the statement that insecurity in schools is unacceptable, saying, “Every child deserves peace and teachers must work without fear.” He stressed that protecting schools is vital to safeguarding the future of the nation’s learners.
Director of Schools Safety, Hussaini Aliyu Abdullahi, added that ensuring school safety is a collective responsibility. He noted that the ministry is moving from reactive responses to proactive measures, including security planning and early-warning systems, to protect students and staff.
Ms. Amy Oyekunle of FCDO-PLANE highlighted the importance of education as a universal right, not a privilege. She commended the resilience of teachers and students while urging communities to actively participate in making schools secure, saying, “We must work together to make schools sanctuaries for learning.”
UNICEF Nigeria’s Chief of Education, Vanessa Lee, reaffirmed her organisation’s commitment to safe and resilient learning environments. She underscored the need for teacher training, community involvement, and strong partnerships to ensure that schools remain secure spaces for education.
It can be recalled that on Friday, the Ministry unveiled a revised basic education curriculum aimed at nurturing patriotic, socially responsible, and future-ready Nigerian citizens.
The curriculum will take effect from the 2025/2026 academic session, reducing content overload and aligning teaching with 21st-century skills.
Civic Education was emphasised across all levels to promote national consciousness, trust in democratic processes, and active citizenship. Teachers underwent reorientation programs to ensure effective delivery of the new modules. The curriculum also incorporated entrepreneurship, digital literacy, life skills, and critical thinking, with a structured subject load for primary, junior, senior, and technical school students.