The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu has underscored the importance of implementing the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools (NPSSVFS) and the National Minimum Standards for Safe Schools.
Sununu said the guidelines are critical for maintaining consistent safety standards across educational institutions and mitigating casualties during potential attacks.
He stated this at an event to create awareness about the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools (MSSS) and discuss concrete steps to enhance school safety nationwide.
The Federal Ministry of Education and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) organised the event in collaboration with UNICEF.
Speaking, Sununu emphasised the need to use NPSSVFS and the National Minimum Standards for Safe Schools to operationalise safe school policies, noting that these guidelines are essential for ensuring consistent safety across educational institutions, thereby reducing casualties during imminent attacks.
On his part, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, reemphasised the collective responsibility in safeguarding education.
“Implementing the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools is essential to addressing our schools’ safety challenges. Governments, communities, and partners must collaborate to ensure that every Nigerian child can learn in a safe and supportive environment,” he said.
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, echoed this sentiment. “Ensuring our children’s safety in schools is a shared responsibility. The Minimum Standards for Safe Schools provide a critical framework for protecting education in Nigeria, but it requires all of us to commit to its implementation. Today’s discussions and commitments are vital for creating secure learning environments for every child in Nigeria.”