The Ministry of Education has expressed concern over the recent bomb attacks in schools, saying that it can reduce enrollment.
Speaking
with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, Dr Nnamdi
Olebara, the Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister, said that Malam
Ibrahim Shekarau expressed his sadness over the incidents at a meeting
with officials of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).
Olebara
said that officials of the Colleges Education Academic Staff Union
(COEASU) also attended the meeting aimed at updating the unions on
efforts being made to resolve their issues
NAN recalls that there were recent suicide bomb attacks on the
Government Science Secondary School, Pokistum, Yobe State, and Federal
College of Education, Kontagora, in Niger State.
“The ministry
invited them to brief them on developments which were very positive and
commiserated with parents and victims of recent killings in Pokistum,
Kotangora and other places.
“He informed ASUP/COEASU that the
Federal Government is seriously concerned about the recent bombings in
schools which could lead to decline in school enrolment and output.’’
According
to Olebara, Shekarau informed them that Nigeria is part of the Global
Safety in Schools programmeand as such the ministry was collaborating
with security agencies to secure schools.
He said the minister thanked ASUP/COEASU for allowing three months
grace to enable the Federal Government to look into their demands.
He informed them about the multi-sectoral meetings being held with a view to meeting their demands.
“He
told them that stakeholders which included NCCE and NBTE, Budget
Office, Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Head of Service, Committee
of Chairmen of Governing Councils of Colleges of Education recently met
over their issues.
“He informed them that a technical committee
had been set up to look into all the issues, adding that much has been
achieved as the Federal Government is willing to resolve all the
issues.’’\
Olebara said that the minister assured the unions that henceforth, they would be involved in all matters concerning them.
He
further said that Shekarau gave the assurance that any decision
concerning the running of tertiary institutions must have their input.
Oleabara
said that the unions expressed satisfaction with the way the minister
was handling their grievances, adding they looked forward to an amicable
resolution of all contending issues.
NAN recalls that ASUP and
COEASU recently suspended their 10-month and eight-month strikes
respectively, following the intervention of the minister.
They gave the Federal Government three months grace to meet their demands which lapsed on October 17.
source: dailypost