The Kaduna government has banned all social events, weddings, shows and entertainment in public school premises.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Yusuf Saleh, stated this in Kaduna.

Mr Saleh said that the move was to protect school infrastructure from vandals.

“For a very long time, some of our schools were being used for all kinds of activities, and at the end of the day, school facilities were being vandalised,” said the Kaduna government. “Every day, we receive complaints and demands from citizens to construct, renovate, or fix one facility or the other in schools, and this involves a lot of money.”

Mr Yusuf added, “It is, therefore, critical to take proactive steps to protect the school’s infrastructure, and this is one of such steps.”

He disclosed that a circular had already been sent to all principals and headteachers in secondary and primary schools, directing them to stop giving out school premises for events and social gatherings.

The perm sec also mentioned that some schools did not have fences, stressing that plans were underway to construct perimeter fences in all schools across the state.

Mr Yusuf added that the ministry was also partnering and collaborating with the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs and Kaduna State Vigilant Service to provide the needed security in schools.

According to him, the efforts will help address the security challenges affecting the smooth operation of some schools in the state.

Reacting to the development, Tijjani Aliyu, co-chair of the Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM), commended the government for responding to calls to protect school facilities.

The move, he said, will reduce the destruction of educational facilities due to social events held on school premises.

He explained that KADBEAM, at a stakeholders’ dialogue on challenges confronting girls education in the state, urged the government to find a lasting solution to the wanton destruction of school facilities.

(NAN)