The Civil Society Organisation Clusters, a non-governmental organisation, has urged state governments in the North-East region to domesticate the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-free schools (NPSSVS).

The NPSSVS programme is being implemented with support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Palladium.

Noadiah Babas, communications and knowledge officer, Young Leaders Network, stated this at a media roundtable in Bauchi on Monday.

She said the programme seeks to encourage increased budgetary allocation to the education sector, to fast track infrastructure development, training on school safety and disaster risk reduction by 2025.

According to her, the Enhance Safe and Secure Education 4 All (ESSEA) of the programme aims to enhance basic, inclusive and safe quality education in the region.

“The team will initiate series of capacity enhancement initiatives to enhance the capacity of clusters for advocacy and collaboration towards effective advocacy deliveries.

“Cluster’s members would also build capacity in budget analysis skills, development of factsheets around budget allocation, releases, and performance.

“The Project will strategically build relationships with education stakeholders in the project states and create opportunities for decision makers to learn and engage around the adoption and implementation of NPSSVS.

“It will leverage on learning and awareness raising in policy engagement by creating platforms to empower citizens to know the NPSSVS.

“It will empower citizens to be involved in the implementation of the policy and build ownership of the policy implementation,” she said.

Also speaking, Nicholas Oshojah, said that schools must be safe as they represent spaces where learners are comprehensively educated and developed.

This, he said, could only be guaranteed if learning takes place in a safe and secure environment.

He urged the media to champnion the safe school campaign in the region.

(NAN)