By Najib Sani, Gombe
Gombe State government is stepping up efforts to enhance school safety and development, as it trains School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) on their roles and responsibilities and on climate change, school emergency preparedness and school improvement plans.
Speaking during the opening of the four days training organised by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) on Tuesday, the state commissioner for education, Aishatu Maigari, explained that the training was part of the new basic education action plan, aimed at equipping SBMC members with knowledge on their roles and responsibilities.
According to her, the participants were drawn from across the state adding that the training was taking place simultaneously in the three senatorial zones.
Maigari urged participants to prioritise the maintenance of school facilities, emphasising the importance of community involvement in protecting educational assets.
She hailed the state government's ban on metal scrap business as a significant move to curb the rising cases of vandalism in schools.
Maigari emphasised that the ban would help curb the destruction of school facilities, citing the metal scrap trade as a major culprit behind the vandalism.
"The business was responsible for more vandalisation in schools. If no one will buy the vandalised facilities like roofs, gates, windows and doors, there will be no vandalism in schools," Maigari said.
The SBMC, she noted comprises reputable individuals who can mobilise resources and add value to schools, including artisans.
Also speaking, Abubakar Usman, a resource person at the training, said the workshop would equip participants with skills on resource mobilisation and utilisation.
He urged the SBMC members to actively participate in school governance, emphasising the need to work within established guidelines.
In an interview with journalists, Abubakar Yaro, secretary of the SBMC of one of the schools in the state, commended the establishment of the SBMC and the training, saying it would boost schools' maintenance.
He, however, expressed concern over inadequate watchmen in schools, pointing out that his school had no watchman, making it vulnerable to vandals.
Yaro urged the state government to recruit watchmen for all public schools to help protect them against vandals.
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