By Salisu Sani-Idris
The Federal Capital Terriory Administration (FCTA) Education Secretariat on Tuesday gave parents, guardians and stakeholders the assurance of the safety of their children and wards in FCT schools.
Malam Leramoh Abdulrazaq, its Acting Secretary, gave the assurance during a routine strategic school security programme known as School Security Guidelines Watch (SSGW), in Abuja.
Abdulrazaq, who is also the Acting Director, Administration and Finance, said that reports of insecurity of schools in some neighbouring states necessitated the intensification of efforts to secure schools.
He said that the measure was by being proactive and putting in place measures to avert unforseen incidents in the FCT.
He recalled that ahead of the current security concerns in December 2020, the FCTA organised a security meeting for all the boarding schools’ principals, stakeholders, security personnel and traditional rulers.
He said that the forum provided the opportunity to engage in a robust discussion on how to further enhance security in schools in the FCT.
He explained that the resolutions reached at that meeting received speedy attention from the administration.
Abdulrazaq said that although no security breach was recorded in the FCT, but as custodians of students no stone would be left unturned.
He added that management of schools were working round the clock to ensure a safe learning and teaching environment since resumption of schools following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The secretary, therefore, advised parents on the need to complement government’s efforts and sustain the various safety measures the FCTA had already put in place, stressing that security was everybody’s business.
Abdulrazaq reiterated the commitment of the education secretariat to continue to place the safety of the students and members of staff as its key priority.
“We are not unmindful of emerging challenges as we are also able to respond to such situations appropriately.
“FCT schools are safe, our teachers are teaching effectively while the students are learning in a safe environment and the authority is intensifying its efforts to ensure the security is further enhanced,” he said
