Schools in Zamfara State have resumed for the 2023–2024 academic session as 75 schools in the red zone remained closed amid palpable fears of kidnappings and banditry.
Inside Arewa reports that the resumption of both public and private schools in the State comes a few days after the abduction of female students of the Federal University, Gusau, and construction workers.
The abduction of students in boarding and day schools in the State occasioned the closure of most schools.
About 75 schools have not been reopened due to insecurity, especially in the rural communities.
According to the Commissioner of Education, Wadatau Madawaki, the state government is collaborating with security agencies for a well-coordinated security network to protect students and staff in schools across the State.
“A security task force has been constituted to assess the security situation in those troubled communities, to ascertain the improvement of security around the schools that are in the red zone so that the government can reopen the schools,” he said.
Inside Arewa learnt that some schools had implemented measures to ensure the security of their students and staff.
According to Jamilu Hamisu, the principal of one of the private schools in Gusau, the State capital, the proprietors of private schools are battling the hard-biting economic and insecurity situation that has led to some parents withdrawing their children from schools.
“Some of them are removing their children from private schools to public schools as they can no longer afford the tuition fees, saying his school alone has lost 16 pupils,” he added.
A parent, Ibrahim Mande, lamented the high cost of books and transportation of children to school, with no income increase.
