The Federal Government has restated its commitment to protecting learners, teaching and non-teaching personnel, schools and learning institutions across the country from violent attacks. Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu made this statement on Wednesday while marking the first International Day for the Protection of Education from Attack.
The Minister said the protection of attack subjects is an obligation of government. He admitted that, over the years, schools have been under attack by Boko Haram, thugs, bandits, unknown individuals and groups and appealedto stakeholders to observe the sanctity of learning centres.
Adamu described the abduction of learners and teachers from places of learning as an infringement on their rights to quality education and called for their immediate release, adding that Nigeria is committed to observing all existing international protocols on education and freedom of learning as well as child rights to quality education in a protective environment.
According to the Minister, apart from the CRCs complementing Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict, there are other instruments such as the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child to which Nigeria is a signatory and obligated to observe as a responsible country.
He also called on security agencies to put in more efforts in ensuring the safety of schools and learning centres and charged communities to take ownership of the protection of schools in their environments. The Minister praised the sacrifices of students, teachers and non-teaching staff who have fallen victims of violent attacks describing them as fallen heroes of the many instances of attacks on learning facilities.
