Back-to-School : Gov’t Strategises For Serene Resumption

The Far North, South West and North West Regions are the three regions of the country currently expressing security challenges, leading to mass displacements caused by the tensions and atmosphere of fear. As the 2024/2025 academic year begins on September 9, 2024, government is focused on ensuring that all ten regions are on the same wave length come Monday. No man is to be left behind. To ensure such an objective, the Prime Minister Head of Government chaired an interministerial meeting yesterday September 5, 2024 geared at evaluating the security situation in the three regions that have a high state of vulnerability. In his opening remark, the Head of Government noted that the beginning of an academic year marks a crucial moment in the literacy and academic calendar of a country and as a result, the government is conscious of its obligation in preventing disorder and fear during such a moment. The meeting thus focused on identifying treats to students, pupils and teachers and those of the education sector during the said period, and come up with recommendations to ensure a serene back-to-school in a secured atmosphere. Presentations from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and the Ministry of Defence indicate that necessary measures have been taken in the three concerned regions after an evaluation of the security situation. Some of the recommendations arrived at include beefing up security in schools identified to be prone to attacks, sensitisation of stakeholders of the educational sector, improving security on the itinerary of students, providing permanent security to students and teachers while on campus and increasing the number of military personnel in command posts near schools identified to be vulnerable. Concerned Regional Governors have also been given specific directives. The defence and security forces are also encouraged to continue working with professionalism, under the i...