Amid the shutdown of schools by Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s government following an increased spate of mass abductions of students, parents have begun enrolling their children in vocational centres.

Mr El-Rufai’s government had announced the postponement of schools resumption “until further notice” on August 6.

The Kaduna government pointed out that the shutdown was in the best interest of schoolchildren as kidnapping for ransom worsens across the country, particularly in the North.

Ibrahim Yusuf, a father of two, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Kaduna that the safety of children was paramount and urged the government to use the radio, television and social media outlets to teach children at home.

Mr Yusuf explained that he did not leave his children idle at home. According to him, they accompany him to his workshop to learn welding and metal fabrication.

“It is important to give children education and teach them vocational skills. That is why I am using this opportunity to teach my children since they can’t be in school,” he said.

Another parent, Hauwa Muhammad, said she enrolled her 10-year-old child in a fashion centre to learn basic tailoring skills.

She commended the Kaduna government for taking proactive measures to ensure that schoolchildren were safe and urged the government to enhance security so that children could go back to school.

Similarly, Abel Steven stated he “lectured” his children when he returned from work at 4:00 p.m. and gave the kids assignments to keep them busy.

He urged parents not to allow their children to wander around but to keep them safe at home and teach them how to carry out chores.