Education stakeholders on Wednesday raised concerns over the growing insecurity in schools across the country, urging governments at all levels to take urgent steps to protect teachers and students from attacks, abductions and other forms of violence.
An estimated 603 students and teachers have been kidnapped in seven mass abductions across schools in Nigeria between March 2024 and May 2026 under President Bola Tinubu, despite the N145bn Safe Schools Initiative.
The stakeholders spoke during a panel session in Lagos.
Among those who spoke were the Lagos State Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Gbenga Ayetoba; the Lagos State President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, Olushola Masheyi; and the Lagos State Coordinator of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Adaobi Ekwuno.
They described insecurity as the most pressing challenge confronting the education sector, warning that continued attacks on schools could undermine the future of the nation’s children.
In Oyo State, on May 15, armed men stormed three schools in Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area, abducting about 46 pupils and teachers.
In Borno State, 42 pupils were kidnapped after armed groups attacked schools in Askira Uba and Chibok Local Government Areas.
Speaking during the session on Wednesday, the Lagos NUT Secretary said insecurity had overtaken concerns about salaries and working conditions, noting that teachers must first be alive before they could enjoy any welfare package.
He said, “We have a lot of challenges that teachers face. But the biggest challenge as we speak now is that of insecurity in our schools. That is the biggest challenge that we have right now.
“When we talk of remuneration and working conditions, it is only when you are alive that you can think of that.”
The union leader lamented what he described as a growing culture of disrespect and violence against teachers, alleging that some students now attack teachers with the backing of their parents.
“Our schools are supposed to be a haven. Teachers’ duty is to stand before the classroom and impart knowledge. But today, students attack teachers and authorities do practically nothing about it.
“You see situations where parents lead students to school to harass teachers. We have seen cases where students hire thugs to attack teachers on their way home,” he said.
According to him, the situation has deteriorated beyond student misconduct to outright terrorism around schools.
“It has moved from students attacking teachers to the level of terrorism around schools, with bandits killing teachers at will,” Ayetoba added.
Also speaking, Masheyi described the recent abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State as evidence of the country’s worsening security crisis.
“A nation where the future leaders are in the forests is doomed already. A nation where teachers are afraid to go to classes is doomed already,” he said.
The ANCOPSS president disclosed that a delegation from the association recently visited the affected schools in Oriire and found shocking security lapses.
“What we saw was appalling. This is a school that is so exposed; no fence, no guards, no mobile network, and very close to the Old Oyo National Park.
“Those students and principals from three schools were directed into the forest like a herd of cattle. They were not transported by vehicle or helicopter; they trekked into the forest. And some of those people have not been released till today,” he said.
Masheyi blamed governments at various levels for failing to prioritise education and school safety.
“I will lay the blame at the feet of the government. Our governments at various levels are not doing enough when it comes to education.
“But when it comes to elections, they suddenly realise that there are so many votes in education. What does it take the government to fence a school?” he asked.
According to him, the sector requires massive investment in infrastructure, teacher development and security if meaningful progress is to be achieved.
“The biggest problem we are having today is safety and security. We believe government cannot do it alone, but we need a massive injection of funds into education, infrastructure and teacher development,” he said.
Masheyi also criticised policies that, according to him, could lower standards within the education sector.
“We need to attract the best brains into education. But what we are attracting now are the rejects of other professions. That cannot take us anywhere,” he stated.
Drawing lessons from rapidly developing Asian economies, he argued that countries that prioritise education inevitably record greater progress.
“If we look at the Asian Tigers, they rose to the pinnacle of development because they gave education priority. We cannot continue like this. Whatever solution we have, education must be a priority,” he added.
Masheyi further called for improved welfare for teachers, arguing that the poor treatment of educators discourages younger generations from embracing the profession.
“Why can’t education get the highest pay in Nigeria? You have risen to the position of a director, and you don’t have a roof over your head or a car of your own. Yet the people you trained are well taken care of in other professions.
“How would your child embrace your profession seeing how you were raised? Our mentality about education must change. Teachers should be seen as leaders,” he said.
In her remarks, Ekwuno described insecurity in schools as one of the most painful realities confronting the education sector.
“One of the most pressing challenges that the education system is grappling with right now is security. Government really has to ensure that schools are secure and that our teachers are secure,” she said.
The TRCN coordinator lamented the growing incidents of teachers and students being abducted from school premises.
“This idea of teachers being abducted and children being abducted within the school environment is not a nice one at all. It is really sad and pathetic.
“Sometimes when you listen to teachers crying out for help, their voices alone can break you. You begin to wonder what offence those innocent children committed simply because they wanted to go to school,” she said.
Ekwuno noted that persistent insecurity, poor welfare and inadequate infrastructure were making the teaching profession increasingly unattractive.
“Apart from insecurity, teachers are not well paid, and their welfare packages are nothing to write home about.
“Sometimes they put in so much over the years and retire with nothing to their name — no house, no comfortable means of livelihood, practically nothing,” she said.
She urged governments to invest more resources in schools, improve infrastructure and restore the dignity of the teaching profession.
“We need to begin to spend money on schools and upgrade them. Look at our senators and lawmakers; they are living large. Yet all of them were taught and made what they are today by teachers.
“We should begin to think seriously about how to restore prestige to the teaching and education sectors,” she added.
In its own intervention, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools Nigeria, on Thursday, held a virtual prayer session in response to the recent abductions and security challenges affecting schools and educational communities across Nigeria.
The interfaith prayer session, featuring school proprietors, teachers, parents, and faith leaders, saw prayers rendered for peace, safety and national security.
Read the full article here
