Niger directs schools to reopen from Monday — six weeks after Kagara abductions

The Niger government has directed public schools in the state to reopen from Monday.

Hannatu Salihu, the state commissioner for education, said schools with day students will resume on March 29, while boarding secondary schools in urban areas will reopen on April 6.

The schools have been shut for close to two months following attacks on learning institutions in the north — including the kidnap of 27 students from the Government Science College, Kagara, Niger state on February 10.

The students were released on February 27.

After the Kagara attack, the state government had first directed the immediate closure of boarding schools in four LGAs, but later extended the closure to all secondary schools in the state.

The government had said the closure was to enable security agencies to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of the schools.

In the statement on Saturday, the commissioner added that schools have been directed to establish security teams to ensure safety within learning environments.

“All public day secondary schools are to reopen on Monday, March 29, 2021. All boarding secondary schools in urban areas are to reopen on Tuesday, April 6, 2021,” the statement reads.

“Low risk boarding secondary schools in rural areas that are to run as day schools during the period are also to reopen on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.

“Public day secondary schools in areas of high risk that would run in clusters with selected safe schools in nearby communities would reopen on a later date to be announced after adequate arrangements are concluded.

“Students from other communities in the boarding schools that would operate as day schools during the period would be moved to other boarding/day secondary schools in their localities.

“All principals have been provided with specific details in respect of the arrangement under (1) – (4). Therefore, they are expected to work under and in collaboration with their zonal directors to ensure compliance in the light of the demands of current security realities.

“All schools, especially those at high risk, would be provided with adequate security meant to enhance the capacity of the school system and security personnel to response to threats.

“To this end, every school must immediately form a formidable Security team, comprising of School Officials, Security Personnel, PTA, SBMC and Vigilante with active community participation to allow for strong security presence in and around the Schools.”