We Are Not Sure Of When Schools Will Reopen – Niger Govt

Niger state government has said it was not sure when boarding schools within the state warrior shut down as result of insecurity, will reopen.

On February 17, the abductees were kidnapped when bandits stormed the Government Science College Kagara and abducted students, staff and relatives. However, a student, Benjamin Habila was shot dead at the school premises by the gunmen.

Following the incident,, has ordered the immediate closure of all boarding schools in bandit ravaged areas of the state.

The state commissioner for education, Hajia Hannatu Jibrin Salihu made this known on Sunday while reuniting the kidnapped Kagara students with their families.

According to the Commissioner, the government is meeting with parents, teachers and other stakeholders to come up with a template for the reopening of the schools.

She expressed;

The security challenge facing this state is huge and we have to ensure things are put in proper place before we will think of reopening the school. I can’t say when they will go back to school or when it will be reopened but we will ensure that the SS3 students are kept in touch with, to see how we will manage them so that they won’t miss anything and still write the final examination. Schools and students are delicate, but we are talking to the parents and other stakeholders to come up with a template for the reopening of the school.

While admonishing the students, Hajia Salihu encouraged them not to be discouraged by their experience adding that they should go back to the society as better people and identify a path to see how they can get out of the trauma caused by their abduction.

On her part, Director-General of the Child’s Right Agency in the state, Hajia Mariam Kolo, who has been at the forefront of counselling of the students to get them out of the trauma described what they went through as indeed a harrowing experience.

She, however, said she was happy with the students’ response to their counselling.

Mariam also stated that the agency has done its best and that there would be a follow up on the students adding that the feedback from them will determine what steps would be taken next.