As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day of Education, UNICEF has commended the significant progress made in providing access to education for 7.2 million children in humanitarian settings across Nigeria.

The commendation is contained in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday by the Communications Officer, UNICEF Nigeria, Safiya Akau.

Ms Akau quoted Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, to have commended the collaborative efforts of the government, donors and partners, calling for concerted efforts to enhance school safety in Nigeria.

“A recent evaluation indicates that, on average, only 43 per cent of the minimum standards for safe schools are being met in about 6,000 assessed schools.

“This finding particularly highlights challenges in ensuring the safety of school infrastructure and in mitigating risks such as violence, conflict, and natural hazards,” she said.

Ms Munduate said that Nigeria had shown a commitment to creating safe school environments by endorsing the safe schools declaration and developing the minimum standards for safe schools.

She, however, said there is room for further progress, while also calling for collective responsibility in safeguarding the educational environment for every child.

“Education is a key driver of gender equality, economic growth, and social development. Sadly, it remains inaccessible to many Nigerian children.

“Their educational journey is often disrupted by attacks on communities and schools, including the abduction of students. These challenges are particularly acute for adolescent girls, potentially stalling the progress made in girls’ education in Nigeria,” Ms Munduate added.

She said that the 2021 attacks on schools, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions led to learning disruptions for over 1.3 million children, necessitating precautionary school closures.

The UNICEF chief, therefore, called for a multi-sectoral approach to improve school safety, through comprehensive planning, coordination, and adequate resource allocation, especially in states with higher risks.

“To complement these efforts, UNICEF emphasises the importance of alternative learning platforms, such as the Nigerian Learning Passport.

“This digital platform, with over 750,000 users, offers curriculum-aligned materials and is crucial for ensuring continuity of education, especially during school closures. UNICEF remains committed to working with the Nigerian government, donors and all partners to ensure that every child has access to a safe, inclusive, and quality education,” Ms Munduate added.

The theme of the 2024 International Day of Education: ‘Learning for lasting peace,’ is to remind the world of the crucial role education plays in promoting peace and stability.

It’s also meant to galvanise stakeholders – including federal and state governments, development partners, civil societies, communities, and educators – to ensure safe and secure learning environments. 

(NAN)