Borno to Reopen Public schools on November 17th

The Borno Government said on Monday that
it would reopen all public schools on
November 17th which were closed down
early in the year due to security concerns.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls
that the schools were shut on March 14th,
after deadly attacks by the Boko Haram on
schools in neighboring Yobe.
Mohammed Dongel, the chairman of the 19-
man committee on the resuscitation of
primary school education in the state, told
NAN in Maiduguri that measures to
safeguard the schools had been adopted.
He also said the government had taken extra
measures to encourage pupils to return and
ensure friendly atmosphere for teaching and
learning.
“All things being equal, public schools will
reopen for classes on November 17th.
“Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno has
already approved the procurement of
chemicals for the fumigation of the schools
against reptiles and other rodents ahead of
the reopening,” he said.
Dongel, however, said only primary schools
would be reopened, while secondary schools
would remain closed until the Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) taking refuge in the
schools were relocated.
“We plan to reopen public secondary schools
soon after the primary schools.
“We are working on plans to relocate the
IDPs to two places- the Hajj Camp and the
International Conference Centre, Maiduguri,
so that the schools will be reopened for
classes,’’ he said.
According to him, the committee has
introduced incentives to ensure that students
return to school.
“You will agree with me that most parents
have been traumatised by insurgents’ attacks
on schools.
“Students have also been scared due to
incessant attacks on schools, so we need to
introduce measures for the purpose of
encouraging schools’ enrollment and
retention.”
He said some of the measures included the
provision of free uniforms and feeding to all
students in public schools.
“Government has also introduced free daily-
meals in all public schools to entice students
to stay,” he said, adding that modern
instructional materials have been procured to
ease teaching and learning.
“We are trying to introduce e-learning in
primary schools to transform our education
system into a world class one.”
Dongel said that government had also
introduced new security measures to ensure
safe environment for teaching and learning.
“We have introduced perimeter fencing in all
public schools to ensure maximum security,
we have also increased the number of
security men in schools to ensure 24-hour
surveillance.”
Dongel said that the government was also
working in partnership with local vigilante
group – the Civilian JTF – to enhance
security in schools.