UNICEF supports safe school initiatives in Gombe

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has organised sensitisation trainings for head teachers in Gombe State on ensuring the safety of schools and children.

According to UNICEF’s Bauchi field office education specialist, Mr Abdulrahman Ibrahim Ado, the program is designed to support the state government in ensuring that schools are safe and conducive for learning.

“We supported the state to conduct what we call a safe school monitoring. In the safe school monitoring, we were able to analyse the data to see where the schools are in terms of physical infrastructures, meeting the standard for disasters whether it is natural or man-made, meeting the standard to ensure the school is safe from conflicts, and then we came with recommendations.
“Some of the recommendations can be implemented at no cost. That is why we sensitised the stakeholders. This sensitisation happened at two levels; state level and local governments level. At local government level, we targeted the head teachers and community structures within the schools so that they can implement all these recommendations.”, he noted.

He also tasked government to provide qualitative buildings in schools to avoid hazards that can stop learning and ensure inclusiveness in the schools’ structures.
During the training, head teachers from various communities in Gombe State appealed to the state government to provide better toilet facilities in schools, citing inadequate facilities that lead to open defecation and unsanitary conditions.

They reported that most schools in the villages have fewer than three toilets, which are inadequate for the number of students and teachers.

The head teachers emphasised the need for improved toilet facilities to ensure hygienic environment and safeguard the health of school children.