SAFE SCHOOL INITIATIVE: Safeguarding Our Children

Children going to school

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, a school is an organization that provides instruction. Simply put it: it is a place for the teaching of children.

The Safe School Initiative was launched at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Nigeria, by Nigerian business leaders working with the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, Mr. Gordon Brown.

The initiative came up as a result of the growing number of attacks on schools, and the abduction of over 200 girls in a government school, in Chibok, Borno state, north-east, Nigeria.

In the course of the Forum (which was held in May) President Goodluck Jonathan in a closed door meeting with Mr. Gordon Brown, pledged the sum of $10 million to the Safe School Initiative Fund created by the latter.

Earlier, Mr. Gordon Brown, alongside a coalition of Nigerian business leaders, launched the sum of $10 million to the Initiative, as part of the campaign towards the safe release of the abducted Chibok school girls, and promoting safety in schools, thus, providing the right environment for learning.

According to Mr. Brown, “we want to assure every girl that goes to school, and every teacher that teaches that their schools will be safer as a result of this action. And we want to support the Nigerian government in all their efforts.”

Parents of the abducted Chibok girls wait patiently for the safe release of their children. As parents, we must put all measures in place to forestall kidnapping at schools.

• ·   Children should know their full name and home address as well as the mobile number of at least one of       the parents.
• ·    Apart from the parents, children should have a trusted person to call in case of any emergency.
• ·   Children’s names should not be visibly imprinted on their clothing, so that they would not be at risk     to potential abductors.
• ·   Children should learn to spot dangerous action. for instance, if someone in a car drives close to you     and tries to get you come to the car or possibly give you a lift, know it is a dangerous action.

·        Most importantly, parents should build a cordial relationship with their children so that they can confide in them regarding anybody pestering them in schools(may be an unknown person through phone calls)

Kid going to school

Teachers must be safety conscious, as safety is everybody’s business, and they are accountable for whatever happens to the children under their stewardship. Possibly, school administrators should employ teachers with experience in safety techniques.                                                                                                                   

As schools begin a new academic session, parents, teachers, school administrators, security personnel should brace themselves for any of such occurrence.

LET’S SAFEGUARD OUR CHILDREN.